Ephemeroptera | Mayflies ACE-11 Coleoptera | Beetles Using this guide Coleoptera with the data sheets Bioindicators of Water Quality Beetles Quick–Reference Guide Coleoptera (Beetles) Authors: Julie Speelman and Natalie Carroll | Photographer (unless otherwise noted): Julie Speelman | Design and Layout: Purdue Agricultural Communication Family Tolerance Number Family Tolerance 4 3 7 Value Found Score 5 5 5 Dryopidae 5 0 0 Dryopidae (larvae) Baetidae Baetiscidae Dytiscidae Dytiscidae (adult) Caenidae Dytiscidae 5 2 10 This publication shows aquatic insects that can be used as Long-toed Water Beetle Predaceous Diving Beetle Predaceous Diving Beetle Small Minnow Mayfly Armored Mayfly Small Square-gill Mayfly Biotic Water Quality Degree of Organic Elmidae 5 0 0 bioindicators of water quality in Indiana waterways. Bioindicators 5 are biological systems that are sensitive to environmental changes Index Rating Pollution Gyrinidae 4 0 0 organic pollution Dryopidae and, therefore, can indicate when pollution is present in the water. 0.00–3.75 excellent Long-toed Water Beetle Haliplidae 7 0 0 unlikely A tolerance score is included for each insect in this publication. Hydrophilidae 5 3 15 slight organic The tolerance score, ranging from 0–10, represents the insect’s 3.76–4.25 very good Psephenidae 4 0 0 sensitivity to pollution and can be used to estimate the quality of pollution possible the water in which the insect was found. Insects with a score of some organic Order Total 5 25 4.26–5.00 good 0 are intolerant to pollution, meaning they cannot tolerate any pollution probable water pollution, while insects with a score of 10 are very tolerant of fairly substantial 5 5 4 1 polluted water. 5.01–5.75 fair 4 4 pollution likely Elmidae (larvae) Elmidae (adult) Gyrinidae (larvae) Ephemerellidae Materials Needed Ephemeridae Heptageniidae 5 substantial Riffle Beetle Riffle Beetle Whirligig Beetle Spiny Crawler Mayfly • dip net 5.76–6.50 fairly poor Common Burrowing Mayfly Flat-headed Mayfly Dytiscidae (larvae) pollution likely • white plastic pail, bowl, or dishpan (Note: The white color makes Predaceous Diving Beetle it easier to see the insects.) 6.51–7.25 poor very substantial • 2–3 white styrofoam egg cartons or plastic ice cube trays pollution likely severe organic • data sheet—available online: http://www.ydae.purdue.edu/ 7.26–10.0 very poor Order Summary natural_resources/Resources/BioindicatorWQ pollution likely Order Total Number Found Order Tolerance Instructions Assessing the Water Quality of a Site Coleoptera 5 25 • Locate a body of water (e.g., stream, pond, lake) to sample. The water should only be at most knee deep and allow easy access For each insect family group: 4 7 7 Diptera • Record the number of insects found for each species listed. 5 6 38 for obtaining the sample. Make sure you have permission to Gyrinidae (adult) Haliplidae (larvae) Haliplidae (adult) 2 4 2 • Multiply the Tolerance Value found on the insect image by the Dytiscidae (adult) Ephemeroptera 8 28 sample the water. Whirligig Beetle Crawling Water Beetle Crawling Water Beetle Isonychiidae Leptohyphidae Leptophlebiidae Number Found, and enter the result under Family Tolerance Score. Predaceous Diving Beetle Hemiptera 5 • Dip the pail in the water to be sampled. Brushed-legged Mayfly Little Stout Crawler Mayfly Prong-gilled Mayfly 27 Note: If the insect Tolerance Value is “undetermined,” exclude that Lepidoptera 2 0 • Collect insect samples from all habitats within a 200-foot section insect from the analysis. Megaloptera 0 0 of that body of water, and place them in the pail. Jab your dip • Sum the Number Found and Family Tolerance Score columns net against the vegetation and into mud or sand at the bottom (Order Totals). Odonata 3 13 to collect insects. Scrape the underside of rocks and logs into Tolerance For each insect order: 0 the net. Common Value Plecoptera 0 • Transfer the Order Totals to the Order Summary section. Name Family Trichoptera 6 24 • Collect insects for 45 minutes. • Sum the Number Found and Order Tolerance Score columns Name Grand Total 35 155 • Using the ice cube tray, sort the insects that look the same (Grand Total). 5 5 4 into the different compartments of the tray using your hand or • Determine the Biotic Index by dividing the Grand Total Tolerance Biotoic Index = [Grand Total Tolerance] / [Grand Total Number Found] = 155/35 = 4.43 Score by the Grand Total Number Found. Hydrophilidae (larvae) Hydrophilidae (adult) Psephenidae (larvae) 2 forceps. Be sure to put some water in the ice cube tray first to Water Scavenger Beetle 4 7 keep the insects from drying out. • Use the biotic index in the table provided to estimate the water Water Scavenger Beetle Water Penny Polymitarcyidae Potamanthidae Siphlonuridae quality rating and degree of organic pollution. • Use the bioindicator quick reference guide to identify the Pale Burrowing Mayfly Hacklegill Mayfly Primitive Minnow Mayfly insects. Record the number of insects from each insect family September 2016 you identify on the data sheet. It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities • Place the insects back in the water when you are finished. Also available: mobile flashcards ($3 to download, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. PDF format for phones) Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats. • Complete the calculations described in the next section to determine the quality rating. https://edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number= 4-H-1018-M Order or download materials from Purdue Extension • The Education Store 7 www.edustore.purdue.edu 1-888-EXT-INFO • www.extension.purdue.edu Scirtidae Riffle Beetle Diptera | Flies Hemiptera | Aquatic Bugs Odonata | Damselflies and Dragonflies Trichoptera | Caddisflies 2 0 6 10 9 Undetermined 3 5 9 1 0 3 Athericidae Blephariceridae Ceratopogonidae Belostomatidae Corixidae Aeshnidae Calopterygidae Coenagrionidae Brachycentridae Glossosomatidae Helicopsychidae Gelastocoridae Narrow-winged Damselfly Aquatic Snipe Fly Net-winged Midge Biting Midge Giant Water Bug Water Boatman Toad Bug Darner Broad-winged Damselfly Humpless Casemaker Caddisfly Saddle Casemaker Caddisfly Snail Casemaker Caddisfly pale forms 6 Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined 1 9 7 8 red forms 4 4 1 8 8 Gomphidae Lestidae Libellulidae Chaoboridae Gerridae Hebridae Hydrometridae Hydropsychidae Hydroptilidae Lepidostomatidae Chironomidae Culicidae Club-tailed Dragonfly Spread-winged Damselfly Common Skimmer Common Net Spinner Caddisfly Micro Caddisfly Lepidostomatid Casemaker Phantom Midge Non-biting Midge Mosquito Water Strider Velvet Water Bug Water Measurer Plecoptera | Stoneflies Undetermined 1 6 5 8 4 4 3 6 Leptoceridae Limnephilidae Philopotamidae Dixidae Empididae Ephydridae Mesoveliidae Naucoridae Nepidae 1 0 2 Long Horned Casemaker Northern Casemaker Caddisfly Finger Net Caddisfly Creeping Water Bug Dixid Midge Aquatic Dance Fly Shore Fly Water Treader Water Scorpion Capniidae Leuctridae Nemouridae Small Winter Stonefly Roll-winged Stonefly Brown Stonefly Megaloptera | Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies 4 6 10 4-46 Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined 1 2 0 Phryganeidae Muscidae Psychodidae Sciomyzidae Notonectidae Pleidae Saldidae Giant Casemaker Caddisfly House Fly, Stable Fly, Moth Fly Marsh Fly Backswimmer Pygmy Backswimmer Shore Bug Perlidae Perlodidae Pteronarcyidae Green Bottle Fly Common Stonefly Patterned Stonefly Giant Stonefly Lepidoptera | 4 Aquatic Moths 0 Corydalidae Sialidae Dobsonfly Alderfly 6 8 10-110 6 3 6 2 5 Simuliidae Stratiomyidae Syrphidae Tabanidae Tipulidae Veliidae Taeniopterygidae Black Fly Soldier Fly Rattailed Maggot Horse Fly, Deer Fly Crane Fly Broad-shouldered Water Strider Winter Stonefly Pyralidae Aquatic Caterpillar.