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Get to Know the Macroinvertebrates in Your Backyard!
Why are macroinvertebrates important?
Macroinvertebrates have known pollution tolerances, limited mobility, a wide range of feeding habits, varied life spans, and dependence on the land environment around the stream. They show impacts from habitat loss that may not be detected by traditional water quality assessments and are a critical part of the stream's food web.
Body-Builder Mayfly:
This mayfly nymph will crawl among leaves, stones, and other derbis in the tray. Occasionally it may swim by slowly undulating back and forth.
Minnow Mayfly
This mayfly nymph is an extremely strong swimmer. It swims by undulating back and forth very rapidly. The mayfly often stands on rocks, leaves and sticks.
Two-Tailed Flathead Mayfly
This mayfly nymph crawls very fast on the surface of stones. It may try and swim by wiggling side to side and will try to hide under any object in the tray (that you are using to survey).
Roach-Like Stonefly
This stonefly nymph is commonly found crawling in and amongst leaf packs in riffle areas. If you peel apart leaves, you will most likely find these stoneflies crawling around.
Common Stonefly
This stonefly is a very active crawler, highly moblie. It may hide on colored objects in the tray and may be observed doing "push-ups" in the tray.
Giant Stonefly
This stonefly nymph is not very actice, it crawls slowly. It may curl up into a C-shape when disturbed.
Saddle Case Maker
This caddisfly larva is often attached to the surface of rocks in fast current. It may not move at all when in the tray. Although, if it does move it will crawl slowly along the bottom of the tray.
Cornucopia Casebuilder
This caddisfly larva is fairly active and will crawl along the bottom of the tray. It resembles a hermit crab and drags it's case along.
Michelin-Man Caddisfly
This caddisfly clings to the net very well. It is a moderately active organism that will crawl or wiggle in the tray. Larvae do not build a case until it is about to pupate. Then, it will build a loosely constructed shelter out of small stones and gravel.
Mid-Size Plant Casebuilders
This caddisfly cases may be attatched to sticks, leaves, or larger rocks. When crawling, they resemble hermit crabs.
Common Net-Spinner
The Common Net-Spinner is extremley active, it wiggles violently back and forth. It will form into clumps of 2-4 in the tray.
Fingernet Caddisfly
This caddisfly is extremly active, it wiggles violently back and forth. It will form in clumps of 2-4 in the tray.
Flat-Head Mayfly
This mayfly nymph is very moblie and can move and swim fast when in water. Occasionally it may swim by undulating from side to side. It will try to hide on any flat dark colored object like stones, leaves, and other invertebrates.
Water Penny Bettle Larva
This larva sticks very well to rocks. It glides along the bottom of the tray and may curl up whe disturbed.
Dobsonfly
The Dobsonfly is very mobile, it will be very active crawling or wiggling in the tray. It will curl it's abdomen around your finger if picked up.
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Both invertebrates are very mobile. Dragonflies nymphs move quickly with jet propulsion or walk. Damselflies nymphs move by wiggling side to side.
Scuds, Aquatic Snowbugs, Leech, Midge,
Black Fly, Snail, and Worm
Amphipods swim on their sides very fast. Isopods crawl slowly smongst the debris. Leeches will stick to the bottom of the tray and move like inch-worms. Midges swim by violent side to side wiggling. Some midge larvae may be bright red in color. Black flies will attatch to the bottom of the tray and move like inch-worms.
Amphipod
Isopod
Leech
Midge
Black Fly
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