A Pictorial Guide to the Orders of Aquatic Invertebrates National Aquatic Monitoring Center, a.k.a. The BugLab Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5210 www.usu.edu/buglab
Trichoptera (Caddisflies) Larvae characteristics: Fleshy abdomen 2 claws on last abdominal segment
sometimes hiding in a case made of Brachycentridae Glossosomatidae Hydropsychdae vegetation, sand, or small stones Brachycentrus Glossosoma Hydropsyche
Hydroptilidae Hydroptilidae Lepidostomatidae Mayatrichia Palaegapetus Lepidostoma
Leptoceridae Odontoceridae Philopotamidae Mystacides Marilia Chimmarra
Polycentropodidae Ryhacophilidae Uenoidae Cyrnellus Ryhacophila Neophylax
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Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) Larvae characteristics: Two thoracic segments gills on abdomen usually three tails Baetidae Baetidae Baetiscidae and one claw Baetis Baetis Baetisca
Caenidae Ephemerellidae Ephemerellidae Caenis Caudatella Drunella
Ephemerellidae Ephemeridae Heptageniidae Timpanoga Hexagenia limbata Epeorus (2 tails)
Heptageniidae Leptophelbiidae Leptophelbiidae Stenonema Paraleptophlebia Paraleptophlebia debilis
Leptohyphidae Leptohyphidae Siphlonuridae Asioplax Tricorythodes Siphlonurus
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Plecoptera (Stoneflies) Larvae characteristics: three thoracic segments gills if any on neck and thorax all have two tails (cerci) Chloroperlidae Nemouridae Nemouridae all have two claws Sweltsa Amphinemura Malenka
Perlidae Perlodidae Perlodidae Calineuria Isogenoides Perlinodes
Peltoperlidae Pteronarcyidae Soliperia Pteronarcys californica
Taeniopterygidae Taenyopteryx Taeniopterygidae Oemopteryx (both)
Odonata (Dragonflies and damselflies) Larvae characteristics: Hinged mouthparts Damselflies Coenagrionidae Argia
Dragonflies Gomphidae Lanthus Libellulidae Libellulidae Libellula pulchella
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Diptera (Flies) Larvae characteristics: Usually elongate Maggot like Never posses segmented legs Blephariceridae Ceratopogonidae Ceratopogonidae (net winged midges) (no-see-ums) Bezzia
Chironomidae Chironomidae Nostococladius Chironomidae Pupae (midges) buried in Nostoc algae
Culicidae Culicidae Dixidae (mosquitoes) Culiseta pupae & adult Meringodixa
Empididae Ephydridae Nymphomyiidae Oreogeton (rat-tail maggot) Nymphomyia
Simuliidae Simuliidae pupae Tipulidae (craneflies) (blackflies) Hesperoconopa
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Family Chironomidae (midges) Larvae characteristics: front and back prolegs small skinny body complete head capsule
Chironominae: two separate eyes
Orthocladiinae: weeping eyes and dark head
Tanypodinae: single eye that is round or ‘Pac-man’ shaped, light mouthparts
The BugLab, Utah State University© May 2001 www.usu.edu/buglab
Hemiptera (True bugs) Adults most often encountered Characteristics: mouthparts united in a jonted beak mandibles concealed wings or wing pads present Belostomatidae Corixidae Hesperocorixa Gerridae (Giant waterbugs, toe biter) (water boatmen) (water striders) legs present
Hydrometridae Naucoridae Notonectidae (backswimmers) Hydrometra (creeping waterbugs) Ambrysus Nonecta kirbyi
Megaloptera (Dobsonflies, alderfiles, and fishflies Larvae characteristics: lateral filaments Coryadalidae larvae Corydalus cognatus larvae and adult
Sialidae Sialis Sialis
Lepidoptera (moths) - Larvae characteristics: Segmented legs and prolegs at least two pair of ventral fleshy leg-like protuberances tipped with tiny hooks
Pyralidae Petrophila (dorsal and ventral)
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Coleoptera (Beetles) Characteristics: No anal claws fleshy abdomen mandibles present legs suitable for walking Amphizoidae Dytiscidae Dytiscidae adults also aquatic (trout stream beetles) (Predaceous diving beetles) Amphizoa Agabus Coptotomus
Dytiscidae Dytiscidae Dytiscidae (Predaceous diving beetles) Hydaticus Oreodytes Rhantus
Dytiscidae Elmidae Elmidae (Predaceous diving beetles) (Riffle beetles) Themonectus marmoratus Optioservus Microylloepus
Gyrinidae Haliplidae Hydrophilidae (whirligig beetles) (crawling water beetles) (water scavenger beetles) Gyrinus Peltodytes Ametor
Hydrophilidae Hydrophilidae Psephenidae Berosus Paracymus (water pennies) Eubrianax
The BugLab, Utah State University© May 2001 www.usu.edu/buglab
Commonly encountered non-insects
Mollusca Pelecypoda (clams and mussels)
Corbiculidae Corbicula Margaritifera. Spahaeriidae Pisidium
Mollusca Gastropoda (snails)
Ancylidae (limpets) Lymnaeidae Ferrissia Planorbidae
Pleuroceridae Juga Physidae Physella
Large to medium sized Crustaceans
Decapoda Anostraca Notostraca (tadpole shrimp) (crayfish) (fairy shrimp) Triops longicaudatus
Small sized Crustaceans
Amphipoda (scuds) Amphipoda Crangonyctidae Isopoda (sow bugs) Gammarus (top), Hyallela (bottom) Stygobromus Asellidae
Tiny sized Crustaceans Zooplankton
Cladocera (water fleas) Copepoda Ostracoda (clam shrimp)
The BugLab, Utah State University© May 2001 www.usu.edu/buglab Annelids Worms, leeches
Hirundinea Nematoda Oligochaeta Lumbruculidae (leeches) (round worms) (segmented worms)
Others
Coelenterata Hydridae Collembola (springtails)
The BugLab, Utah State University© May 2001 www.usu.edu/buglab