ORD: Ephemperoptera
FAM: Baetidae
GEN: Baetis
This mayfly has three "tails" and a unique head
shape. Its gills are oval shaped and insert dorsally. The wing shape is
an obvious characteristic. More mature nymphs have long dark wings.
SMC
ORD: Diptera
FAM: Chironomidae
Midge larvae tend to be the most common
macroinvertebrate at our sites. As with other Diptera, there are no true
jointed legs. Chironomidae do have a pair of prolegs at each end and
preserved individuals tend to curl into a 'C'. Identification past
family requires slide-mounted heads. Chironomidae are often confused
with caddisflies, but checking for true legs will help classify.
NABS
ORD: Diptera
FAM: Simuliidae.
What's not to like about blackflies? Our
second most common dipteran. Rather like a bowling pin with hands
attached at the head end. We have not identified them past family
at this point, but it is in the long-term plan.
NABS
ORD: Plecoptera
FAM: Leuctridae
GEN: Leuctra.
Among our most common stoneflies, this family is fairly slender by stonefly standards. The divergent wing pads are a helpful characteristic.
NABS
ORD: Ephemeroptera
FAM: Heptageniidae
GEN: Epeorus
A mayfly with two or three 'tails'! This family of mayflies has distinctly flattened heads, and this
particular genus has two tails and a unique gill arrangement.
NABS
ORD: TrichopteraFAM: Philopotamidae.
GEN: Chimara
Chimara is the most common genus of caddisfly we encountered. The faint white 'T' shaped labrum extending from the front of the head past the mandibles in this picture is diagnostic for the family. The asymmetrical notch gets us to genus.
SMC
Ventral view
Dorsal view
ORD: Diptera
FAM: Blephariceridae
GEN: Blepharicera
Characterized by six prominent "suction cups" on ventral side. Also has tufts on sides of abdominal sections.
SMC
ORD: Trichoptera
FAM: Hydropsychidae
GEN: Ceratopsyche
Ceratopsyche has a forked foretrochantin (above). The foretrochantin is the projection at the uppermost portion of the arm closest to the head. The arm may need to be pulled away from the body to expose this feature; however, not all Trichopterans have forked foretrochantins.
Ceratopsyche have a large pair of sclerites underneath the prosternum as pictured above. Note: the large single sclerite is the prosternal plate.
SMC
ORD: Diptera
FAM: Ceratopogonidae
Members of this family look like very straight Chironomidae or even like bamboo. They are quite long and very thin with a distinct head capsule and no prolegs.
SMC
ORD: Plecoptera
FAM: Perildae
GEN: Agnetina
This stonefly is characterized by the filamentous gills located in the "armpit". Another important feature is the paraglossae and glossae extending different lengths. The occiput has a transverse row of little hairs evenly spaced. This insect always has 3 ocelli. Finally, the Agnetina has another row of hair on abdominal segment 7 which is spaced evenly across the whole segment.
SMC