Cyprus Wetland Invertebrates
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Sensitive SCALE is 5 mm Cyprus wetland invertebrates Dragonfly Damselfly Caddisfly Cyprus wetlands are areas of significant environmental, social and cultural Adult blood-fed Anisoptera Zygoptera Trichoptera Female mosquitos importance. They are characterised by a rich biodiversity, and many mosquito Adult terrestrial and water animal species use them for resting, feeding and as a refuge. They are used as a migration stopover for large numbers of birds and insects during their journey from Europe to Africa and vice versa. They Life cycle of the host a rich flora including many plant species used in traditional crafts such Common Mosquito Culex pipiens Adult as basketry. Cyprus wetlands are vulnerable to pressures from agricultural Larva Nymph intensification, urbanisation, invasive alien species, climate change and Nymph pollution, which can result in their degradation. Adults fly and can be very Adult The adult has hairy wings which is colourful. Eats mosquitoes and where its name was derived from. Cyprus wetlands host a large number of invertebrate species which are the other invertebrates. Nymphs live Wings are folded above its body at When the insect is at rest the wings Egg laying underwater and feed on small fish. rest. Similar to dragonflies but have form a tent shape over its body. The main food source for many other fauna species. This guide provides simple Adults only live for a few days/weeks, a smaller and slimmer body. Larvae larva makes cases from plant material but important information on invertebrates of Cyprus wetlands. These whereas the nymphs can live under have three gills on the tip of the and sometimes sand particles which species are used as bio-indicators for assessing water quality due to the Larvae and pupae water for several years. abdomen which look like tails. it uses for protection and camouflage. different level of sensitivity or tolerance to pollution. Water Spider Freshwater Crab Daphnia or Water Flea SCALE is 5 mm Argyroneta aquatica Potamon ibericum Daphnia spp. Very tolerant Mud Snail Midge Tadpole Hydrobia Chironomus spp. Amphibia Tiny planktonic organism. Water Mite Hydrachnidae Adult Larva Very rare species. During the day it This is the only spider known to live hides under stones or burrows in The adult looks like a mosquito but Not an invertebrate but an almost all of its life underwater. It tunnels. It hunts at night on land and Tiny colourful mite. It is used to does not bite. The larva may have a amphibian. eats insects like mosquito larvae. feeds on algae, worms, frogs and fish. control mosquito numbers. Feeds mainly on algae and diatoms, bright red colour and is an important usually at the bottom of the food source for fish and other Included in the guide due to its common watercourse. invertebrates. presence at wetlands. Very sensitive SCALE is 5 mm Springtail Leech Segmented worm Collembola Hirundinea Annelida Freshwater Mussel Mayfly Stonefly Riffle Beetle Margaritifera auricularia Ephemeroptera Plecoptera Stenelmis spp. Tiny and often hops at the water’s Feeds on insect larvae and molluscs, Its body consists of multiple ring surface. Feeds mainly on dead has no teeth and can swallow prey segments and mainly feeds on organic matter. whole. organic matter. Adult Adult Nymph Adult Nymph Larva Very rare species. It is a filter feeder and lives Adults have a short Adults fold hind A small beetle with long partially buried in the lifespan. Nymphs have wings under the front legs. The larva looks riverbed. It can survive three long tails and side wings at rest. Nymphs like a small segmented This guide was written by Peter Scarlett, Jodey Peyton, Koula Michael, Sophie Kamenou and for over 100 years. gills on their abdomen. have two tails. caterpillar. Angeliki F. Martinou. The project was funded by the Defra Darwin Initiative Plus (DarwinPlus088 Addressing drivers of ecological change at Akrotiri Salt Lake). Text © CEH-UK 2020. Images © Chris Shields 2020 and Anne Bebbington (© Field Studies Council UK 2020). All rights reserved. Tolerant SCALE is 5 mm Tolerant SCALE is 5 mm Saltmarsh Mosquito Common House Anopheles Mosquito Whirligig Beetle Great Diving Beetle Water Boatman Aedes detritus Mosquito Anopheles sacharovi Gyrinidae Dytsicus spp. Notonecta spp. Culex pipiens Adult Adult Larva Adult Adult Feeds on mosquito larvae. Rests Adult upside down in the water and uses its hind legs as oars to swim fast. Using Larva Grows in areas where water collects, Larva Larva in contaminated waters and in damp Larva its wings, it flies to new habitats. places such as gutters or flowerpots. Breeds primarily in brackish A small beetle usually found in A large dark brown or green beetle. Reproduces in salt marshes. The The adult female mosquito requires marshes. The adult female large groups. It swims swiftly at It is a voracious predator and can female requires blood to produce blood to produce eggs which it then mosquito needs blood to produce the water’s surface. It was named even eat small fish or newts. It Freshwater Shrimp eggs which it then lays on wet sand. lays on the surface of the water. eggs which it then lays on the Whirligig as it swims in continuous protects itself from predators by Gammarus pulex In the Mediterranean it has not been It usually bites during the night surface of the water. It mostly circular movements when in danger. emitting a foul-smelling liquid. found to be a vector of diseases. It and is a vector of many diseases bites during the night and it is an It protects itself from predators by The larva is also a predator and bites at dawn and dusk. such as the West Nile virus. important vector of malaria. emitting a foul-smelling liquid. injects poison into its victims. Blackfly Sandfly Horsefly Waterlouse Red Swamp Crayfish Simuliidae Phlebotomus spp. Tabanidae Asellus aquaticus Procambarus clarkii Lives at the bottom of streams and occurs in large numbers. It feeds on algae and protozoa. Megacyclops Adult Megacyclops viridis Adult Larva Larva Adult Larva A small black fly species whose larva A small hairy fly species whose larva A fly species of medium to large size. Native species to America and looks like a worm. The adult female has a black head and hairs on the The larva looks like a worm. Adult Looks like woodlice. It often hides Mexico. In Cyprus it has been bites people and cattle and is a entire body. It is a vector of diseases females bite humans and cattle and under stones and feeds on decaying classified as an alien invasive vector of diseases. like leishmaniasis. are vectors of diseases. organic matter. species. It eats insects and plants. Feeds on mosquito larvae and carries parasites to mosquitoes, Water Measurer so may be useful for controlling Hoverfly Cranefly Soldierfly Water Strider mosquito numbers. Eristalis tenax Tipulidae Stratiomys spp. Gerridae Hydrometridae Fairy Shrimp Branchinella spinosa Adult Adult Larva Small shrimp found in salt lakes or Larva Larva Adult brackish ponds. It is a filter feeder and an important food source for The adult hoverfly looks like a bee A small, two-winged yellow-black Feeds on mosquito larvae by flamingos. During drought it lays which protects it from predators. The adult looks like a giant mosquito, species which looks like a wasp. piercing and then sucking out body fertilised eggs with hard shells which The larva looks like a worm and lives but it does not bite. Larvae look like The larva looks like a caterpillar and contents. In turn it is eaten by birds A long and thin insect feeding on can survive drought for long periods, in water. It has a characteristic long worms. It is called Cranefly because breathes in the water through a and fish but can dive or fly to escape mosquito larvae. When disturbed it and they hatch when conditions are tail which acts like a breathing tube. of its long legs. tube. predators. jumps on the surface. suitable..