Water Quality - Macroinvertebrates

Mayfly

Class 1, larval development can take 3 months-3 years, feathery gills line side of abdomen, three tail filaments, large part of diet for many fish, incomplete metamorphosis

Class 1 Macroinvertebrates

Pollution sensitive

Caddisfly

Class 1, larvae are usually cylindrical and "C" shaped, some live under rocks and some make cases by sticking rocks to their bodies, one generation per year, complete metamorphosis

Stonefly

Class 1, nymphs have two tails and no visible gills on sides, they live beneath rocks in fast-moving, clean water, molt often more than a dozen times, takes 1-2 years for them to become adults, incomplete metamorphosis

Gilled snails

Class 1, relies on oxygen in water, spiral shaped shell, grazes on a variety of substrates

Dobsonfly

Class 1, some of the largest larvae, found in clean rivers with rocky bottoms near decaying logs/stumps, carnivorous and have large pinchers, adults live 7 days, complete metamorphosis

Water penny (beetle larva)

Class 1, aquatic larva of beetle, often stick flat to surfaces like rocks, vary in color, eat plant debris, complete metamorphosis

Riffle beetle

Class 1, larvae resemble little "torpedos", adults have small oval-shaped body about 1/4" long, adults are aquatic and crawl slowly under water on the bottom, complete metamorphosis

Water scorpion

Class 1, larva resemble small twigs, not good swimmers, have elongated tubes from which they breath air as they skim the water, grab their prey and suck the juices out of their victims, adults are also carnivorous, incomplete metamorphosis

Class 2 Macroinvertebrates

Moderately sensitive to pollution

Damselfly

Class 2, nymphs have long slender bodies with 3 long tail like gills, adults look similar to dragonflies but smaller, nymphs hide in stones and in leaf litter under water, carnivorous, incomplete metamorphosis

Adult damselfly

Dragonfly

Class 2, most nymphs have oval, flattened, bodies or spider-like bodies, predators, 6 long legs with (possibly) some small wings beginning to develop, adults are similar to damselflies, but wings are laid flat or horizontally when at rest, incomplete metamorphosis

Adult dragonfly

Aquatic sowbug

Class 2, crustacean and isopod, can be found on substrates or overhanging vegetation found crawling on the surface, omnivorous, similar to a roly-poly

Scuds

Class 2, tiny crustacean amphipods, referred to as water shrimp, found in shallow water near overhanging vegetation, help keep water clean by eating dead decaying material, primary food source for a variety of fish

Cranefly

Class 2, larvae are wormlike with thick skinned bodies, larvae eat vegetation, adults normally don't eat and are food for birds, spiders, and some carnivorous plants, complete metamorphosis

Water mite

Class 3, small arachnids, larvae are born with 6 legs and are usually parasitic on aquatic insects, adults are round and bulbous with 8 legs, tend to be bright red, but can also be different colors

Midge

Class 3, lay eggs in masses on surface of water, larvae feed on organic material on surface of water, after first molt turn into blood midges, like small mosquitos but don't bite, complete metamorphosis

Flatworm

Class 3, long, flat bodies with eyes on top of head looking cross-eyed, no metamorphosis

Black fly

Class 3, eggs deposited in shallow, fast-running water on suspended objects as rocks, leaves, or vegetation, larvae attach themselves to substrates where they filter through water for food, females are aggressive and require special diet to produce eggs, complete metamorphosis

Class 3 Macroinvertebrates

Moderately pollution tolerant

Class 4 Macroinvertebrates

Pollution tolerant

Leeches

Class 3, Found in areas high in organic debris or mud in shallow, still water, mostly external parasites, parasitic species feed off of blood of host

Air-breathing snails

Class 4, feed on a variety of substrates, don't require dissolved oxygen in the water for survival

Deer/Horsefly

Class 4, larva are caterpillar-like and are predators, collectors, and sometimes cannibalistic, most species have one generation, females feed on blood to develop eggs, complete metamorphosis

Tubifex worms

Class 4, aquatic annelids, look like long earthworms, often found in large clumps in muddy bottoms, indicate poor water quality, filter organic matter from mud, food for fish and bottom feeders

Blood midge

Class 4, larva of the midge, turn blood red under low oxygen conditions, have substance similar to hemoglobin that holds oxygen absorbed through gills, eat dead plant and animal matter, food for fish, water mites, and insect larva

Class 5 macroinvertebrates

Air breathing

Predacious diving beetle

Class 5, live in ponds, lakes, and slowing moving streams, larvae are predators, adults are black or brown with some markings, eat tadpoles and small fish, food for fish, frogs, water spiders, complete metamorphosis

Whirligig beetle

Class 5, life cycle similar to predacious diving beetle, stay at bottom and eat plant matter, adults live on surface of "gentle" ponds or lakes, adults can trap air bubbles so they can submerge, adults prey on other insects/creatures that fall on water surface, divided eyes allow adults to see above and bellow the water

Mosquito

Class 5, lay eggs on surface of water, eggs hatch within 48 hours, larvae have siphon tubes for breathing and

hang from the surface of the water, mosquito larvae can live in almost every type of still-water habitat, larvae turn into pupa after 4th molt, pupa stage is a resting stage while the adults develop, males feed on plant juices, females bite humans and other animals and use blood to help develop eggs, complete metamorphosis

Giant water beetle

Class 5, females lay eggs on backs of males where they stay until they hatch, mostly inhabit ponds, edges of lakes, and pools of streams, nymphs of water bugs molt several times before reaching

adulthood, adults will inflict a painful bite with their beak in defense if they are handled carelessly, nymphs and adults are fierce predators and inject chemicals into prey that kill prey and dissolve internal parts, feed on tadpoles, small fish, salamanders and small frogs, incomplete metamorphosis

Water strider

Class 5, life cycle similar to giant water beetle, skate on the water surface, predator on other insects

Back swimmer

Class 5, similar to life cycle of giant water beetle, swims on its back paddling with long fringed hind legs, nymphs molt multiple times before reaching adulthood, nymphs recieve oxygen through skin, adults breath air from surface of water, predatory (attack anything from aquatic insects to tadpoles and small fish), inflict painful bite even on humans, adults can also fly

Water boatman

Class 5, adult swims upright and paddle along surface of water, nymphs molt 5 times before becoming adults, nymphs absorb oxygen through skin, most species are herbivores, adults can fly and live in clusters or group, don't actually bite humans

1.0 to 13

safe pH for bacteria

6 to 9

safe pH for carp, catfish, some insects

7 to 9

safe pH for snails, clams

6.5 to 7.5

safe pH for largest variety of animals plus mayfly, dragonfly nymph

6.5 to 12

safe pH for plants

6.5 to 8.5

safe pH for sunfish

Water surface

possible habitat for whirligig beetles, water striders, springtails

Edgewater that includes overhanging plants

possible habitat for fast-moving bugs and beetles, freshwater shrimp

On or among vegetation in the water

possible habitat for haliplid beetles, dragonfly larvae

Under grasses and undercut stream banks

possible habitat for ripping insects, caddis flies, beetle larvae that have burrowed into logs and under rocks, mayflies and stoneflies

Riffles or water tumbling over rocks

high in oxygen and especially rich in insect

diversity

On the bottom of or among rocks - out of the way of swift currents and debris

possible habitat for caddis flies, stoneflies, mayflies, damselflies

At the bottom of a body of water

possible habitat for worms, fly larvae, bivalve mussels

Flowing water

possible habitat for gripping insects, caddis flies, damselflies,

shrimp, snails

Macroinvertebrates in pools

Holding spot for organic material - shredders amphipods, isopods, freshwater crayfish and some caddis fly larvae

Edgewater

May have emergent plants, overhanging root masses and leaf packs, provides good camouflage for a variety of animals

Riffles

Shallow rocky sections of streams with fast flowing turbulent water, tends to have a diverse variety of macroinvertebrates

Runs

Deep, slow moving body of water, not ideal for many macroinvertebrates because most of the food matter settles at the bottom

Pools

Usually have sandy or muddy bottoms, less macroinvertebrates present than in riffles

Collectors

Physically gather food or construct net like structure to catch it, eat devolved organic matter, algae, feces, and plants, found at bottom of streams

Shredders

Shred, cut, bite or bore food, eat vegetation that has fallen into water, found in areas with overhanging trees

Scrapers

Use organs to scrape the food, feed off of algae and diatoms on rocks, found in areas with enough sunlight for algae growth

Predators

Hunt other organisms for food, found in every kind of water habitat

Complete metamorphosis

Incomplete metamorphosis

Purple loosestrife

Aquatic Nuisance Plant

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Aquatic nuisance plant

Water hyacinth

Aquatic Nuisance Plant

Zebra Mussel

Aquatic Nuisance Animal

Spiny water flea

Aquatic Nuisance Animal

Asian tiger mosquito

Aquatic Nuisance Animal

Carp

Aquatic nuisance animal