GLERL/Sea Grant: Great Lakes Water Life Photo Gallery

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Some Ephemeroptera nymphs and Diptera larvae are common in the deep profundal benthic zones of the Great Lakes - other orders of aquatic insect larvae are restricted to littoral or tributary benthos, nearshore surface waters (e.g., water striders), or are parasitic on other Great Lakes waterlife (e.g., Lepidoptera and braconid wasps). Some Coleoptera and Hemiptera remain fully aquatic as adults (usually littoral) - other orders of aquatic insects have winged adults and are usually found floating on the water surface, associated with emergent macrophytes (e.g., wetlands) or in nearshore terrestrial habitats.

Nymphs and Larvae

Note on juvenile stages - Pupae are inactive stages (e.g., hard case, translucent case or cocoon). Larvae and nymphs are both active stages. Nymphs have rudimentary wings (or wing buds) and usually have jointed legs (usually 3 pair) similar to adults. Larvae lack rudimentary wings and usually lack legs or are limited to prolegs or projections (usually other than 3 pairs). See also: An Introduction to Insect Life Cycles

Larval mayfly - Hexagenia limbata
Ephemeroptera
(mayflies)

Nymph - 3 tail blades, lateral gills on abdomen

dragonfly nymph - Aeshna sp.
Odonata
(dragonflies & damselflies)

Nymph - 0-3 tail appendages, chewing mouth (predatory)

Chironomid larva
Diptera
(flies, midges & mosquitos)

Larvae - w/o legs

stonefly larvae - Acroneuria sp.
Plecoptera
(stoneflies)

Nymph - 2 tail appendages

Megaloptera larvae - Sialis sp.
Megaloptera
(alderflies & spongilliflies)

Alderfly larvae - with stout lateral processes on all segments
Spongillifly larvae - found in sponges with a slender curved mouth ~ half body length

Caddis fly larvae (bottom) and case (top)
Trichoptera
(caddisflies)

Larvae - found in cases, 1 pair of terminal prolegs with hooks

riffle beetle larvae - Stenelmis spp.
Coleoptera
(beetles)

Larvae - without prolegs or cases, usually 6 well developed thoracic legs but no wing pads

water strider nymphs - Gerris sp.
Hemiptera
(water bugs)

Nymphs - incomplete metamorphosis, juveniles look similar to adults

Bellura sp. larvae
Lepidoptera
(daggar and snout moths)

Larvae - caterpillars with 5 proleg pairs, usually parasitic in macrophytes rather than independently aquatic

braconid wasp larvae emerging from a caterpillar host
Hymenoptera
(braconid wasps)

Larvae - Parasitic on other larvae

Adults

Ephemeroptera
(mayflies)

Adult - 2-3 threadlike tails

Ischnura hastata - adult male damselfly
Odonata
(dragonflies & damselflies)

Adult - similarly sized fore and hindwings held perpendicular to the body (flat or vertical) at rest

Adult chironomus (midge)
Diptera
(flies, midges & mosquitos)

Adult - 1 pair of wings, no thread-like tails

Plecoptera
(stoneflies)

Adult - wings held flat and parallel to the body with hindwings fanfolded beneath the shorter forewings when at rest

Climaciaareolaris
Megaloptera
(alderflies and spongilliflies)

Adult - hind-wings broader than fore-wings at least at base, held downsloping at rest

adult caddisfly - Pneumatopsyche speciosa
Trichoptera
(caddisflies)

Adult - 2 pair of hairy wings held downsloping at rest

adult Hydaticus spp. - predaceous diving beetle

Coleoptera
(beetles)

Adult - forewings hardened to a protective covering meeting in a straight line down the back

adult water boatman - Sigara sp.
Hemiptera
(water bugs)

Adult - forewings meet leaving a triangular patch showing at the anterior portion of the back and are clear at the tips

Bellura sp. adult
Lepidoptera
(daggar and snout moths)

Adult - 2 pair of wings, both with powdery scales

adult braconid wasp
Hymenoptera
(braconid wasps)

Adult - extremely narrow waist

Species List

Order
- Family
  - Genus
    - Species Reported Locations**

** Reported locations based on a limited literature search. Codes indicate presence reported but absence of a code should not be interpreted as a species absence.

Coleoptera (beetles)
- Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles) XS
  - Donacia sp. X
  - Neohaemonia sp. X
  - Prasocuris sp. X
- Curculionidae (snout beetles, weevils)
  - Lixus sp. X
- Dytiscidae (predaceous diving beetles) XW SHEO
  - Bidessus spp. W SHO
  - Celina sp. X
  - Dytiscus sp. X
  - Hydaticus spp. XW E
  - Hydroporus spp. W H
  - Laccophilus spp. XW H
  - Rhantus sp. X
  - Uvarus sp. X
- Elmidae (riffle beetles) XW SHEO
- Erirhinidae
- Gyrinidae (whiligig beetles) XW H
- Haliplidae (crawling water beetles) XW HE
- Helophoridae
  - Helophorus sp. X
- Hydraenidae (minute moss beetles)
  - Anacaena sp. X
  - Cymbiodyta sp. X
  - Hydrochara sp. X
  - Hydraena sp. X
  - Paracymus sp. X
  - Tropisternus sp. X
- Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetles) XW EO
- Limnichidae (minute marsh-loving beetles)
- Noteridae (burrowing water beetles) X
- Psephenidae (water pennies) W SHO
- Sciritidae X
  - Cyphon sp. X
- Staphylinidae (rove beetles) X
Diptera UGZ XWRLN12345 SMHEL* (Click link for full list)

Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) XWRN SHEO
Chaoboridae (phantom midges) X
Chironimidae (midges) XWR(50spp.) LN12345 SM(27spp.)HEO
Culicidae (mosquitos) X
Dixidae (midges) X
Dolichopodidae (longlegged flies) X
Empididae (dance flies) XW SHEO
Ephydridae (shore flies) XR E
Mycetophilidae (fungus gnats) X
Psychodidae (moth flies) W SHE
Sciaridae (dark-winged fungus gnats) X
Sciomyzidae (marsh flies) X
Simuliidae (black flies) W SO
Stratiomyidae (soldier flies) X
Syrphidae (syrphid flies) X
Tabanidae (deer flies) X
Thaumaleidae (solitary midges) X
Tipulidae (crane flies) XWR S

Ephemeroptera (mayflies) XWRLN SHEO (Click link for full list)
- Baetidae XWR SHEO

Baetiscidae
Caenidae XWRL SHEO
Ephemeridae XWRN SHE
Ephemerellidae
Heptageniidae XWRN SHEO
Leptohyphidae
Leptophlebiidae
Oligoneuridae X

Heteroptera (Hemiptera)
- Belostomatidae (giant water bugs) X S
  - Belostoma sp. X
- Corixidae (water boatmen) XW SHE
  - Callicorixa sp.
    - C. audeni W H
  - Hesperocorixa sp.
    - H. atopodonta W S
    - H. kennicotti X
    - H. michiganensis X
  - Palmacorixa sp
  - P. buenoi X
  - Sigara spp. X
    - S. alternata W E
    - S. lineata XW HE
    - S. transfigurata X
    - S. trilineata XW SH
    - S. variabilis X
  - Trichocorixa
    - T. borealis X
    - T. naias W H
- Gerridae (water striders) X
  - Gerris sp. X
  - Limnoporus sp. X
  - Neogerris sp. X
  - Trepobates sp. X
- Hydrometridae (marsh treaders, water measurers) X
  - Hydrometra sp. X
- Mesoveliidae (water treaders) X
  - Mesovelia sp. X
- Naucoridae (creeping water bugs) X
- Nepidae (water scorpions) X
  - Ranatra sp. X
- Notonectidae (backswimmers) X
- Veliidae (ripple bugs) X
Hymenoptera

Braconidae (braconid wasps) X

Lepidoptera

Noctuidae (dagger moths)

Bellura spp. X

Pyralidae (snout moths) XWR SHEO
- Acentria sp. X
- Acentropus (Acentria) sp.
  - A. niveus (ephemerella) EO (Exotic - GLANSIS)
- Nymphula spp. W SHO
- Paragyractis spp. WR HE
- Parapoynx sp. X
- Petrophila sp. X

Megaloptera

Sialidae (alderflies) XL H

Sialis sp. XL H

Sisyridae (spongillaflies)

Climacia sp.
- C. areolaris R

Odonata XW SO (Click link for full list)
- - Aniosoptera (dragonflies)
- - Zygoptera (damselflies)
Plecoptera (stoneflies)

Capniidae XW SH

Paracapnia sp.
- P. angulata W SH
Chloroperlidae
Alloperla spp. W H
Hastaperla sp.
- H. brevis W SH

Leuctridae

Leuctra sp.
- L. tenuis W SH

Nemouridae

Nemoura sp.
- N. trispinosa W SH

Perlidae

Acroneuria sp.
- A. lycorias W SH
Paragnetina sp.
- P. media W H

Perlodidae

Arcynopteryx sp.
- A. compacta W S
Isogenus sp.
- I. frontalis W SO
Isoperla sp. R
- I. bilineata W SH

Trichoptera (caddis flies) XWRLN SHCEO
- Brachycentridae

Brachycentrus sp.
- B. lateralis C
Micrasema spp. W R(29spp.) CE
Molanna sp.
- M. ulmerina C

Glossosomatidae

Glossosoma spp. W S
Proptoptila sp.
- P. maculata C

Helicopsychidae

Helicopsyche sp.
- H. borealis XWR SHCEO

Hydropsychidae

Cheumatopsyche spp.
- C. campyla W SHCEO
- C. miniscula WH
- C. speciosa C
Hydropsyche spp. W SHCEO
- H. alternans C
- H. guttata W HE
- H. hageni C
- H. incommoda C
- H. morosa C
- H. phalerata C
- H. recurvata W SHEO
- H. valanis C
Macrostemum sp.
- M. zebratum C
Potamyia sp.
- P. flava C
Symphitopsyche sp. R

Hydroptilidae XWR SHCEO

Agraylea spp. W SHCEO
- A. multipunctata C
Hydroptila spp. XWR SHCEO
- H. consimilis W SHCO
- H. spatulata W CE
- H. waubesiana C
Ithytrichia sp.
- I. clavata W H
Neotrichia spp. W S
- N. halia C
Ochrotrichia sp.
- O. tarsalis C
Orthotrichia sp.
- O. aegerfasciella C
- O. cristata C
Oxyethira spp. X
- O. pallida C
- O. verna C

Lepidostomatidae

Lepidostoma spp. WR SHCEO
- L. togatum W O

Leptoceridae XWRLN SHCEO

Ceraclea spp. XWR SHCEO
- C. alagma W O
- C. ancycla (ancyclus) WR SE
- C. angusta W H
- C. annulicornis WR SH
- C. cancellata C
- C. diluta W HCEO
- C. erratica C
- C. flava W HCO
- C. mentiea C
- C. neffi C
- C. nepha W EO
- C. resurgens R C
- C. submacula R
- C. tarsipunctata W HCEO
- C. transversa C
Mystacides spp. WRN SHCEO
- M. longicornis W HCEO
- M. interjecta XW O
- M. sepulchralis (sepulcharis) WR SHC
Nectopsyche spp. XWR HCE
- N. diarina C
- N. exquisita C
Oecetis spp. XWRN SHCEO
- O. avara W SHCEO
- O. cinerascens C
- O. eddlestoni W HE
- O. immobilis C
- O. inconspicua W SHCEO
- O. osteni C
Setodes spp. W HC
- S. incertus C
- S. oligius C
Triaenodes spp. XR C
- T. flavescens C
- T. injusta C
- T. tardus C
Ylodes sp. X

Limnephilidae XW SCE

Anabolia sp. X
Apatania spp. W E
Arctopora sp. X
Dicosmoecus spp. W S
Glyphopsyche spp. W S
Goerinae X
Grammotaulius sp. X
Lenarchus sp. X
Limnephilus spp. XW SC
- L. hyalinus C
- L. indivisus C
- L. infernalis C
- L. sackeni C
- L. submonilifer C
Nemotaulius sp. X
- N. hostilus C
Psychoglypha sp.
- P. subborealis W S
Pycnopsyche sp C

Molannidae

Molanna spp. XWN HCEO
- M. flavicornis C
- M. uniophila W O

Phryganeidae

Agrypnia sp. XR
- A. vestita C
Banksiola sp. X
- B. crotchi C
Fabria sp. X
Phryganea sp. X
- P. cinerea C
Ptilostoma sp. X

Polycentropodidae XWR SHCE

Cernotina sp. X
Cyrnellus spp. XC
Neureclipsis spp. XWR SHCE
- N. bimaculatus C
- N. crepuscularis W CE
- N. validus C
Nyctiophylax spp. WR SHCE
- N. affinis W HC
- N. vestitus W H
Phylocentropus sp. X
- P. placidus C
Polycentropus spp. XWR SHCEO
- P. centralis R
- P. cinereus WR SHCE
- P. interruptus WR HC
- P. remotus WR HC

Psycomyiidae

Lype sp.
- L. diversa C
Psychomyia sp. W SH
- P. flavida C

Rhyacophilidae

Rhyacophila spp. W SH
- R. atrata W S

* (Dominant) based on:

Relationships among zoobenthos, sediments, and organic matter in littoral zones of western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay. 1983. Richard A. Cole and Diana L. Weigmann. JGLR 9(4)568-581.
Disruption of the benthic community in Lake Ontario. 2003. S.J. Lozano and T.F. Nalepa. in State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) -- Past, Present and Future. M Munawar (ed). Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.

S (Lake Superior) based on:

M (Lake Michigan) based on combination of:

H (Lake Huron) based on:

C (St. Clair - Detroit River Corridor) based on:

E (Lake Erie) based on:

O (Lake Ontario) based on:

Disruption of the benthic community in Lake Ontario. 2003. S.J. Lozano and T.F. Nalepa. in State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) -- Past, Present and Future. M Munawar (ed). Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.
Wave-zone macrobenthos of the exposed Canadian shores of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. 1978. D.R. Barton and B.N. Hynes. JGLR 4(1)27-45.
Factors influencing changes in the nearshore benthic community on the Canadian site of Lake Ontario. 2000. Bruce W. Kilgour, Robert C. Bailey, and E Todd Howell. JGLR 26(3)272-286.
Benthic macroinvertebrate communities of southwestern Lake Ontario following invasion of Dreissena. 1994. Timothy W. Stewart and James M. Haynes. JGLR 20(2)479-493.
Benthic macroinvertebrate communities in southwestern Lake Ontario following invasion of Dreissena: Continuing change. 1999. James M. Haynes, Timothy W. Stewart, and George E. Cook. JGLR 25(4)828-838.
NOAA Great Lakes Nonindigenous Species List
Changes to the deepwater benthos of eastern Lake Erie since the invasion of Dreissena 1979-1993. 1997. R Dermott and D Kerec. CJFAS 54: 922-930.

X (Great Lakes coastal wetlands) based on:

The ecology of invertebrates in Great Lakes coastal wetlands: current knowledge and research needs. 1992. Kenneth A. Krieger. JGLR 18(4)634-650.
Atlas of the Chironomid Midges (Class Insecta: Order Diptera: Family Chironomidae) Recorded at theOld Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve& State Nature Preserve, Ohio by N.J. Johnson and KA. Krieger. Water Quality Laboratory, Heidelberg College. Tiffin, Ohio, USA 44883. April 2005.

W (wave zone = 0-2m) based on:

Wave-zone macrobenthos of the exposed Canadian shores of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. 1978. D.R. Barton and B.N. Hynes. JGLR 4(1)27-45.

R (rocky habitats) based on: Benthic Community Structure and Composition among rocky habitats in the Great Lakes and Keuka Lake, NY. 1987. Michael H. Winnell and David J. Jude. JGLR 13(1)3-17.

L (littoral) based on: Relationships among zoobenthos, sediments, and organic matter in littoral zones of western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay. 1983. Richard A. Cole and Diana L. Weigmann. JGLR 9(4)568-581.

N (nearshore) based on:

1 = 14-30m based on:

Disruption of the benthic community in Lake Ontario. 2003. S.J. Lozano and T.F. Nalepa. in State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) -- Past, Present and Future. M Munawar (ed). Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.
Factors influencing changes in the nearshore benthic community on the Canadian site of Lake Ontario. 2000. Bruce W. Kilgour, Robert C. Bailey, and E Todd Howell. JGLR 26(3)272-286.

2 = 31-50m based on:Disruption of the benthic community in Lake Ontario. 2003. S.J. Lozano and T.F. Nalepa. in State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) -- Past, Present and Future. M Munawar (ed). Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.

3 = 51-70m based on:Disruption of the benthic community in Lake Ontario. 2003. S.J. Lozano and T.F. Nalepa. in State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) -- Past, Present and Future. M Munawar (ed). Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.

4 = 71-90m based on:Disruption of the benthic community in Lake Ontario. 2003. S.J. Lozano and T.F. Nalepa. in State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) -- Past, Present and Future. M Munawar (ed). Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.

5 = >90m based on:Disruption of the benthic community in Lake Ontario. 2003. S.J. Lozano and T.F. Nalepa. in State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) -- Past, Present and Future. M Munawar (ed). Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.

U (eutrophic indicator) based on:

Trophic Status of Southeastern Lake Michigan Based on the Chironimidae (Diptera). 1985. Michael H. Winnell and D.S. White. JGLR 11(4)540-548.

Z (mesotrophic indicator) based on:

Trophic Status of Southeastern Lake Michigan Based on the Chironimidae (Diptera). 1985. Michael H. Winnell and D.S. White. JGLR 11(4)540-548.

G (oligotrophic indicator) based on:

Trophic Status of Southeastern Lake Michigan Based on the Chironimidae (Diptera). 1985. Michael H. Winnell and D.S. White. JGLR 11(4)540-548.

Great Lakes Water Life Photo Gallery

Aquatic Insects of the Great Lakes

Species List

Keys compiled from:

Images Courtesy of:

Links