The Deadly Lower Lip!

Dragonfly Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

At first glance, you might not guess that the Dragonfly larva is a fierce underwater
predator. A close look at its mouthparts will reveal the Dragonfly larva’s secret
weapon. Its hydraulic lower lip can flip out and extend almost three times the
length of its head to snatch passing prey in an instant!
The Dragonfly larva breathes by taking water in through its rear end over
gills located at the end of its abdomen. To swim, the Dragonfly larva blasts the
water back out its rear end, making it shoot through the water like a jet!

* 650 species of Odonata in N. America

* 10-60 mm long, depending on species
* favourite food: other insects or minnows
* lives on stream bottoms, ponds or lakes
* fairly tolerant of pollution
 Tiny, Hammer-Headed
Killer!

Damselfly Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

Don’t be fooled by the Damselfly larva’s delicate appearance. This little, slender-
bodied beauty is actually a well-adapted predator! The large bulging eyes on the
Damselfly larva’s hammer-shaped head enable it to locate small prey as they swim
by. Once the prey has been spotted, the Damselfly larva shoots out its
specialized bottom lip to catch the victim. After the prey has been seized, the
Damselfly larva folds its lip back towards its mouth to dine on its new meal.
If you look closely at the rear end of a Damselfly larva, you will see three
leafy-looking tails. These “tails” work like gills, enabling the Damselfly larva to
take oxygen from the water so it can breathe.

* 650 species of Odonata in N. America

* 10-60 mm long, depending on species
* favourite food: other insects or minnows
* lives on stream bottoms, ponds or lakes
* fairly tolerant of pollution
 A Clever Disguise and
Convenient House!

Caddisfly Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

To protect themselves from predators, most Caddisfly larvae will build a house-
like case around their bodies. They gather small plant pieces, pebbles or other
construction materials for their tiny underwater house. The Caddisfly larva then
glues the tiny bits together with silk threads created by its own sticky spit! There
are also Caddisfly larvae found only in streams that are known as “net-spinners”.
These species use a silk net to capture food carried by the water!
Each Caddisfly larva species has its own favourite food. Some larvae eat
algae that they scrape off underwater rocks, whereas others are predators.

* 1300+ species of Trichoptera in N. America

* 2-40+ mm long depending on species
* favourite food: algae, rotting plant & animal matter, other
insects
* most freshwater habitat
* low tolerance for pollution
 Monstrous Mouth!

Fishfly Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

The larvae of the Fishfly are fierce underwater hunters. Their well-developed
mouthparts allow them to grab and swallow up other aquatic larvae. In fact, they
are such aggressive feeders that they will even eat other Fishflies.

Fishflies are strong swimmers that can move backwards and forwards in their
search for food. Other aquatic insects, such as black fly and caddisfly larvae,
don’t have much of a chance when a Fishfly is on the hunt. No wonder the
Fishfly, one of the largest aquatic larvae, makes a tasty snack for hungry fish.

* 50 species of Megaloptera in N. America

* 10-90+ mm long, depending on species
* favourite food: other insects, molluscs &
worms
* streams, rivers & lakes with soft bottoms
* low tolerance for pollution
 Bottom Dweller!

Stonefly Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

The Stonefly larva is a true superstar when it comes to crawling along the bottom
of a river or stream in moving current! Its strong, robust legs are each equipped
with two, tiny claws that help it cling to stones, so it does not get swept away.
The somewhat flattened body of the Stonefly larva allows it to explore under rocks
in search of food. Some Stonefly larvae eat algae and decaying material found on
the stream bottom, whereas others are predators.
Stoneflies need streams that are clear, cool and high in oxygen to survive.
So if you find a stonefly under a rock in a stream, chances are very good that the
stream is unpolluted.

* 500 species of Plecoptera in N. America

* 5mm-6cm long, depending on species
* favourite food: bacteria & fungi, some species are predators
* among stones in fast streams & rivers
* low tolerance for pollution
 Diving for Dinner!

Water Boatman

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

Water Boatmen are abundant in calm lakes and ponds, or in pools on streams.
These superb swimmers use their hairy back legs as oars.
When the Water Boatman gets hungry, it will gather an air bubble on its
belly. The Water Boatman will use the oxygen from this bubble when it dives
underwater to eat bits of plant tissue and other stuff that has settled on the mucky
bottom. Some Water Boatmen will feed on mosquito larvae and other small
insects.
The Water Boatmen will call out to each other by rubbing their forelegs
over their head to make a sound.

* 130 species of Corixidae in N. America

* 3- 10mm long, depending on species
* favourite food: organic debris, some eat small
insects
* high tolerance for pollution
 Monitoring for Pollution!

Mayfly Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

In order to survive, the Mayfly larva needs to find plenty of oxygen in the water
where it lives. It gathers the oxygen using gills that line both sides of its body. If
there is too much pollution, the Mayfly larva’s gills will not get enough oxygen,
and it will die. If there are many Mayfly larvae in a stream, the water is probably
healthy. If they are missing, we might need to worry about pollution! Insects that
decrease or increase in response to pollution are often called “indicator
organisms” because their presence can “indicate” altered conditions in an
environment.

* 600+ species of Ephemeroptera in N.

America
* 3- 20mm long, depending on species
* favourite food: algae & small bits of rotting
stuff, some eat other insects
* clings to rocks, or in soft soil on stream
bottom
* low tolerance for pollution
 Looking at the World with
Divided Eyes!

Whirligig Beetle

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

The Whirligig Beetle has many intriguing adaptations for surviving on, and in its
watery habitat. It is a speedy swimmer, spending most of its time on the water’s
surface searching for unsuspecting prey. Using its oar-like hind legs, the
Whirligig Beetle zips back and forth, and spins around in quick circles. Each of its
eyes is split into two halves. The top half of the eye looks up at the sky for
potential predators. At the same time, the bottom half of the eye works like a
swim goggle, examining whatever is under the water! When the Whirligig Beetle
dives, it traps an air bubble under its wing, so that it can breathe beneath the
surface.

* 50+ species of Gyrinidae in N. America

* adult 3-15mm, larvae 30mm
* favourite food: other insects, scavengers
* adults found on surface of quiet waters
* fairly tolerant of pollution
 Upside-Down Snorkel
Bums!

Mosquito Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

We are all quite familiar with adult Mosquitoes buzzing around our heads during
the spring and summer, biting us and making us itchy. It is only the females who
feed on our blood to produce their eggs.
Mosquito larvae live in standing water, and look quite different from their
adult parents. They are often hairy, wiggle, and hang upside-down from the
surface of the water. Being upside-down is great for capturing tiny microscopic
prey, which are filtered out of the water with special mouth brushes. The tube-
shaped tails that anchor the Mosquito larvae to the surface are actually used to
gather air for breathing. Imagine having a snorkel on your rear end! Weird!

* 150+ species of Culicidae in N. America

* 3- 15mm long depending on species
* favourite food: organic debris suspended
from water surface
* medium tolerance for pollution
 Fanning for Food!

Black Fly Larva

Photo credit: McCafferty, W.P.,Aquatic Entomology,1998. www.jbpub.com

Although small, the Black Fly larva is extremely well -designed for life in running
water. To anchor itself in one place, the Black Fly larva makes a little pad of silky
spit on a rock or other secure surface in the current. Shaped like a tiny punching
bag (wide at the bottom, skinnier at the top), the Black Fly larva attaches its butt to
the silken pad with Velcro-like hooks. After it is securely stuck, many species of
Black Fly larvae use two large, hairy fans (modified mouthparts) to filter food from
the current. Black Fly species without a fan will graze on the organic stuff around
their attachment point.

* 260+ species of Simuliidae in N.

America
* 3- 15mm long, depending on species
* favourite food: organic debris
* attaches to rocks or other secure
places
* medium tolerance for pollution