Mud Creek

ORDER: Trichoptera
FAMILY: Hydropsychidae
GENUS: Ceratopsyche

Ceratopsyche has a forked foretrochantin. The foretrochantin is the projection at the uppermost portion of the foreleg. The leg may need to be pulled away from the body to expose this feature.

Ceratopsyche have a large pair of sclerites underneath the prosternum. Note: the large single sclerite is the prosternal plate. SMC

NABS
ORDER: Trichoptera
FAMILY: Hydropsychidae

This family of net-spinning caddisflies is very abundant at several sites.  They are important filtering collectors and are quite common at urban and agricultural sites where particles of organic material can be important food resources.  Genus-level identification is possible for mature specimens and we will include the genera we found at your site if possible.  In general we commonly find Cheumatopsyche, Ceratopsyche, and Hydropsyche.

When using the key, some features that are challenging to see are the forked trochantin and the paired sclerites in the folds between segments.  Keep in mind that with smaller specimens, genus-level ID may not be possible.

ORDER: Diptera
FAMILY: Chironomidae

 Midge larvae tend to be the most common macroinvertebrate at our sites.  As with other Diptera, there are no true jointed legs.  Chironomids 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.  We have seen philopotamid caddisflies misidentified with the chironomids and we suspect that that happens when samples are being sorted from trays.  Under a microscope, six prominent legs can be seen on the philopotamids.

ORDER: Coleoptera
FAMILY: Psephenidae
GENUS: Psephenus

The true "water penny" is commonly found in the waters sampled. Psephenus has a rounded shape with relatively smooth edge. The false water penny, whose edges are serrated, has a more oval appearance. The gills on the ventral surface are found only in the true water pennies. SMC

ORDER: Ephemeroptera
FAMILY: Baetidae 

This family of mayfly is characterized by antennae longer than the width of their head and a notch in their labrum. The most common genus we found was Baetis.
NABS

ORDER: Trichoptera
FAMILY: Hydropsychidae
GENUS: Cheumatopsyche

Cheumatopsyche has a forked foretrochantin (as does Ceratopsyche). The foretrochantin is the projection at the uppermost portion of the front leg closest to the head. The leg may need to be pulled away from the body to expose this feature.

Cheumatopsyche have a small or inconspicuous pair of sclerites under the prosternal plate that are difficult to see.  Contrast that with the larger pair of sclerites found on Ceratopsyche.  To access sclerites, it's best to gently pull the pronotum and mesonotum in opposite directions. Note: the large single sclerite is the prosternal plate.

Cheumatopsyche have only 2 types of hair on the abdomen: long thin plain hairs and thicker club hairs, which are narrow close to the body and widen out at the distal end. Paired sclerites on the ninth abdominal segment are notched. SMC

ORDER: Ephemeroptera
FAMILY: Isonychiidae
GENUS: Isonychia

This mayfly has unique long hairs on its forefemora as the main distinguishing characteristic (allowing anyone keying to move through quickly). Carefully observe the limbs because such hair can be matted down and therefore hidden in preserved wet specimens. The body of Isonychia is slim and "minnow-like" when observed dorsally. In specimens we collected, they were commonly brown and substantial, in length and width as compared to the very common Baetidae.

ORDER: Diptera
FAMILY: Tipulidae
 

The majority of fly larvae in the Tipulid family were found to be from the genera Antocha and Molophilus.

ORDER: Ephemeroptera
FAMILY: Heptageniidae
GENUS: Heptagenia

Heptagenia are easily characterized by their flat head. The claws have just one basal tooth and no denticles (serrated edges).  The gill on abdominal segment 7 has multiple fibrils at is base (thread-like structures) and has a single tooth on its claws but is smooth otherwise.  Gills on segment 7 are similar to those on all other segments, but may be smaller in size.

Images are available from An Identification Guide to the Nymphal Mayflies of British Columbia

Images will be forthcoming

ORDER: Ephemeroptera
FAMILY: Siphlonuridae
 

This family of mayflies have posteriolateral spines on segment 9 and the labrum does not have a deep notch. Maxillae do not have pectinate spines.