Benthic

Macroinvertebrate Key

Acknowledgements
Mike Birmingham, Dennis Heimdal, Todd Hubbard, Ken Krier, Richard Leopold, Jim
Luzier, Jacklyn Neely, Brian Soenen, and Tom Wilton.

Revised May 2005

 Key to Phylum/Classes of Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Nearly all of the benthic macroinvertebrates collected will fall into six major groups
that are fairly easy to identify. They are:
1. Flatworms (Planarians) – Small, flat, soft-bodied worms which often have a
triangular or arrowhead-shaped head. As a group, these are called Tubellaria
(Figure A).
2. Segmented Worms – This phylum includes aquatic worms (Oligochaeta, Figure
B) and leeches (Hirudinea, Figure C). Some oligochaetes look like small
earthworms you might find in your garden, although usually they will be smaller,
thinner, and more delicate. Leeches are larger, flattened, and usually have a
suction pad on at least one end of their body.
3. Mollusks – This phylum includes snails and clams/mussels. Clams and mussels
(Figure D) belong to the class Pelecypoda. Snails belong to the class Gastropoda.
The most common snail family in Iowa is Physidae (left spiral snail, Figure E),
pollution tolerant organisms that are identified by thier opening spiraling up from
the left if you look at the shell with the tip pointed up. A more pollution sensitive
group is the right spiral snail (Figure F), which are identified by their opening
spiraling up from the right if you look at the shell with the tip pointed up. Two
organisms in the somewhat pollution tolerant group from the Gastopoda class
include limpets (a single uncoiled shell, Figure G) and orbsnails (a single coiled
shell resembling the horns of a ram, Figure H).
4. Crustaceans – All of these organisms have more than six legs, two pairs of
antennae, and an exoskeleton composed of chitin. This combination of
characteristics separates crustaceans from other groups. The classes of this
phylum that IOWATER identifies are:
• Crayfish (Decapoda) look like small lobsters and have ten legs, with the
front two bearing large claws (Figure I).
• Scuds (Amphipoda) are laterally compressed (body is higher than it is
wide), white to pale yellow in color, and good swimmers. They are also
called “freshwater shrimp” (although there is no relation); scuds will be on
their sides if taken out of the water because of their body shape (Figure J).
• Sowbugs (Isopoda) look similar to scuds except they are flat (body is wider
than it is high) and gray to brown in color (Figure K).
5. Arachinds - The water mite is the member of this class you may collect. They
have 8 legs, no antenna, and a round one segment body (Figure L).
6. Insects – Most of the organisms you collect in this class will be the immature
larval or nymph stages of insects. Many have three pairs of “true” legs, and
those without legs will usually have fleshy bumps called prolegs. These aquatic
insects will need to be identified to the order or family level for IOWATER
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Indexing. If the organism that you are identifying
does not fit in one of the aforementioned categories, please proceed to page 3.

1
 *Note – Additional help in identifying Benthic Macroinvertebrates can be found in the
identification key Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest by R.W.
Bouchard, Jr. It is recommended that you use the IOWATER Benthic Macroinvertebrate
Key first and the Upper Midwest guide only when additional help is needed.

Figure C. Hirudinea (leech)

Figure A. Tubellaria
(flatworm & planarian) Figure B. Oligochaeta
(aquatic worm)

Figure D. Pelecypoda (clams

and mussels) Figure G. Ancylidae F
(limpet) (
Figure F. Right
Figure E. Physidae spiral snail
(left spiral snail)

Figure H. Planorbidae
(orbsnail) Figure J. Amphipoda (scud)

Figure I. Decopoda
(crayfish)
Figure K. Isopoda (sowbug)
Figure L. Arachind
(water mite)

2
 Key to Orders of Aquatic Insects
*Note – Some beetle larvae will not key out directly using this key. They may key out as a
Trichoptera or Megaloptera but then will not key out as a family. If you find yourself in this
situation, compare with the examples in Figure 7 and/or on page 21 and 22.

1. Thorax without segmented legs, but may have prolegs (unsegmented) on one or more
segments (Figure 1)………………………………………...….Diptera larvae (true fly) Page 5
Thorax with segmented legs………………………………………....…………...….….Go to 2

2. Beetle-like, with rounded or oval body, abdominal segments not visible when viewed from
above (Figures 2-4) OR long, slender body, very long legs (Figure 5)…...................….Go to 3
Not as above………………………………………………………………………...…..Go to 4

3. Beetle-like, with hard, dark, often shell-like covering with a dividing line down center of back
(Figure 2)……………………………………………...…Coleoptera adult (beetle) Page 19-20
Patterned or leathery textured back without a center dividing line (Figures 3-4) OR long,
slender body with very long legs (Figure 5) …………..…..Hemiptera adult (true bug) Page 7

4. End of abdomen has 2-3 long, thin, filament-like “tails”, not paddle-like……..…...…Go to 5
“Tails” are absent, very short, spiny, thickened, or paddle-like……………………...…Go to 6

5. Sides of abdomen have plate-like, feather-like, or leaf-like gills, usually has three tail
filaments…………………………………...……….Ephemeroptera larvae (mayfly) Page 8-10
No gills on abdomen, or only on the first few abdominal segments closest to thorax, always
has two tail filaments …………………………...….…Plecoptera larvae (stonefly) Page 11-12

6. “Face” covered by mask that is actually an elbowed, extendable grasping organ that is part of
the mouth …………………………………...Odonata larvae (dragonfly & damselfly) Page 13
Face has chewing mouthparts not like above……………...……………………………Go to 7

7. Abdominal segments have long, lateral filaments ……………...…………………………

………………………………………..…...Megaloptera larvae (alderfly & dobsonfly) Page 14
Not as above, although fine, thin filaments may be visible……………..……………....Go to 8

8. Abdomen fleshy………………….....……………....Trichoptera larvae (caddisfly) Page 15-17

Abdomen hardened and usually darkened (Figure 6)…..Coleoptera larvae (beetle) Page 21-22

3
 Dividing Dividing line
line

Figure 2. Coleoptera adults (beetle)

Figure 3. Hemiptera adults (true bugs)

Figure 1. Diptera larvae (aquatic fly)

Figure 5. Hemiptera adults (true bugs)

Figure 4. Hemiptera adult (true bugs)

Figure 6. Coleoptera larvae (beetle)

Figure 7. Coleoptera larvae (beetle)

4
 Key to the Families of Diptera (True Flies)
1. Head capsule hardened and fully visible (Figures 8-9)………………..……...…...…...Go to 2
Head capsule absent or retracted (at least partially) into thorax……………………..….Go to 3

2. Prolegs only present on front of thorax, end of abdomen swollen and has a sucker (Figure 8)..
……………….…………………………………………………………..Simuliidae (black fly)
Prolegs present on front of thorax and usually at end of abdomen, which is not swollen and
has no suction cup (Figure 9)………………………….. ………….Chironomidae (midge fly)

3. No head capsule (Figure 10-13)…………………………...……………………..…… .Go to 4

Head capsule rounded and apparently pulled into thorax, end of abdomen usually has two or
more fleshy lobes (Figure 14-15)…...……………………… ……….......Tipulidae (crane fly)

4. Long, thin breathing tube at least half as long as body extending from the abdomen, fleshy
body (Figure 10)…………….………………………… …..… Syrphidae (rat-tailed maggot)
Not as above……………………...………………………..………………….……...…Go to 5

5. Body tapered at both ends, a ring of “pseudopods” is present on each segment (Figure 11)…
…………………………………………………………………….… …Tabanidae (horse fly)
Body ending in lobes or extensions and has prolegs on each segment ….......................Go to 6

6. End of body has two extensions that appear “hairy” and are longer than prolegs (Figure 12)…
…………………………………………………………………..….….Athericidae (crane fly)
End of body has “non-hairy” extensions and are usually shorter than prolegs (Figure 13)…….
……………………………………………………….....…………….…Empididae (crane fly)

5
 Order Diptera
Hairy
extensions
No Head
Capsule
Head Capsule
Sucker

Proleg Figure 12. Family Athericidae

Figure 8. Family Simuliidae

No Head
Non-hairy extensions Capsule

Head
Capsule

Prolegs Figure 13. Family Empididae

Figure 9. Family Chironomidae

Fleshy lobes
Head capsule pulled
into thorax
No Head Breathing tube
Capsule

Figure 14. Family Tipulidae

Figure 10. Family Syrphidae

Fleshy lobes Head capsule pulled
into thorax
No Head
Capsule Pseudopods

Figure 15. Family Tipulidae

Figure 11. Family Tabanidae

6
 Key to the Families of Hemiptera (true bugs)
1. End of abdomen has long, slender breathing tube (Figure 16)...........Nepidae (water scorpion)
Not as above…………………………………………………………………..…….…..Go to 2

2. Long and slender body and legs, “walks” on water surface, commonly called water striders
(Figure 17) …...……………………..………………...…Gerridae or Veliidae (water strider)
Oval-shaped body with a patterned or leathery textured back (Figures 18 & 20)……....Go to 3

3. Usually large body (>¾ inch), back is brown and leathery, raptor-like fore legs, swimming
hairs on 3 sets of legs (Figure 18) ……...............................Belostomatidae (giant water bug)
Smaller body (under ½ inch), back patterned and not leathery……………………..…..Go to 4

4. Front legs short with front foot forming a scoop, (Figure 19)…….Corixidae (water boatman)
Front legs not as shortened as above, family swims upside-down (Figure 20)………………....
…………………………………………………………………..Notonectidae (backswimmer)

Breathing
Tube

Figure 16. Family Nepidae Figure 17. Family Gerridae or Veliidae

Scoop Figure 18. Family Belostomatidae

shaped front
leg

Figure 19. Family Corixidae Figure 20. Family Notonectidae

7
 Key to the Families of Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
1. The top of the thorax is enlarged to form a shield which may or may not have spines
(Figure 21)………………………….……………...……….Baetiscidae (armored mayfly)
Not as above…………………………..…………………………………….………Go to 2

2. Gills on middle abdominal segments forked and fringed (Figure 22), head has tusks
visible from above (Figures 23-24)………………………………………………....Go to 3
Various types of abdominal gills (if forked, not fringed – Figure 25), head without
tusks ……………………………..…………………….…………………..Go to 5 (Page 9)

3. Foreleg of front legs stout, sometimes with “bumps”, for burrowing (Figure 23)…Go to 4
Foreleg of front legs normal size (Figure 2)…...…......Potamanthidae (Hacklegill mayfly)

4. Tusks when viewed from the side curve upward (Figure 26)………………………………
………………………………………………………….Ephemeridae (burrowing mayfly)
Tusks when viewed from the side don’t curve upward (Figure 27)………………………...
………………………………………………………Polymitarcyidae (burrowing mayfly)

Stout
foreleg Normal
foreleg

Figure 23. Forelegs for Figure 24. Normal

Figure 21. Family Baetiscidae Burrowing forelegs

Figure 26. Tusks curved

Figure 22. Gills Figure 25. Gills upward, Family Figure 27. Tusks not
forked and fringed forked but not Ephemeridae curved upward, Familiy
fringed Polymitarcyiidae

8
5. Long, slender hairs on insides of front legs (Figure 28)…….………..…………....……Go to 6
Not as above…………………………………………………………..….……………..Go to 7

6. Gills on first abdominal segment on top of segment and similar to other abdominal gills, body
“minnow-like” (Figure 29)………………………… ……....…Isonychiidae (minnow mayfly)
Gills on first abdominal segment on bottom of segment, this family is very rarely collected
(Figure 28)…………………………………...….….….Oligoneuriidae (brush-legged mayfly)

7. Gills on second abdominal segment form a cover or at least a partial cover for other
segments’ gills (Figure 30-31) ……………………………..…...….…………….…......Go to 8
Gills on second abdominal segment not as above, like the other gills or absent……..…Go to 9

8. Gills on second abdominal segment triangular or oval, not meeting in middle of segment
(Figure 30)………………………………………….…...................…Leptohyphidae (mayfly)
Gills on second abdominal segment square or rectangular, meeting in middle of segment
(Figure 31)…………………………………………….……..Caenidae (square-gilled mayfly)

9. Gills absent or severely reduced on first and second abdominal segment

(Figures 32-33) ………………………………………………..Ephemerellidae (spiny mayfly)
Gills present on first and/or second abdominal segments………………………..……Go to 10

10. Body and head very flattened, eyes on topside of head (Figure 34)……………………………
……………………………………………………………….Heptageniidae (flathead mayfly)
Body and head not flattened, eyes on side or front of head……….…………………...Go to 11

11. Tarsal claws of front legs forked, very rarely collected (Figure 35)…………………………...
…………………………………………………………........Metretopodidae(minnow mayfly)
Not as above…………………………………………………...……………………....Go to 12

12. Gills on middle abdominal segments are forked or filamentous as in Figures 25 or 37……….
…………….……….........................................................................................Leptophlebiidae
Gills not as above, usually oval or heart-shaped (Figure 36)……... Baetidae (minnow mayfly)

9
 Order Ephemeroptera
Hairs

Gills Figure 29. Minnow-like body of

Family Isonychiidae
Figure 30. First gills forming
Figure 28. Hair on inside of a cover of other gills, not
legs, gills on first abdominal meeting in center, Family
segment Leptohyphidae

Figure 33. Gills absent on

Figure 32. Gills absent on first and second abdominal
Figure 31. Gills meeting first and second abdominal
in center, Family Caenidae segment, Family
segment, Family Ephemerellidae
Ephemerellidae

Figure 35. Forked Tarsal claw

on front leg of Family
Metretopodidae

Figure 34. Flattened head and

body of Family Heptageniidae Figure 36. Oval or heart shaped
gills of Family Baetidae

Figure 37. Various gill types of

Family Leptophlebiidae

10
 Key to the Families of Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
1. Tufts of gills on thorax around base of legs (Figure 38)…….................................…….Go to 3
No gills, single or forked gills on thorax around base of legs (Figure 39)…….........…..Go to 2

2. Thorax much wider than abdomen and robust (Figure 40) OR if present the wing pads
(underdeveloped wings) are divergent (slightly forked) (Figure 42)……………..……Go to 4
Thorax slender only slightly wider than abdomen and rounded (Figure 41) OR if present the
wing pads are parallel to the body (Figure 43), found in winter months ………………………
…………………………………………………………………….Capniidae (winter stonefly)

3. Gill tufts present on thorax segments only (Figure 44)……………… …… Perlidae (stonefly)
Gill tufts present on thorax segments and the first and second abdominal segments (Figure
45).………………………………………………………..…..Pteronarcyidae (giant stonefly)

4. Head and abdomen have distinctive color patterns (Figure 46)....Perlodidae (pattern stonefly)
Not as above……………………………………………………….…………….……..Go to 5

5. Found in winter and early spring in “warm water streams,” some have pale strip down the
middle of the thorax and the abdomen (Figure 47) ……....Taeniopterygidae (winter stonefly)
Found in spring and summer in “cold water streams,” and spring runs, no pale strip down the
middle of the thorax and the abdomen (Figure 48) ………….....Nemouridae (brown stonefly)

11
 Order Plecoptera

Thorax

Figure 39. No gills, single or forked

Figure 38. Tufts of gills gills on thorax around base of legs Figure 40. Thorax
on thorax around base of wider than abdomen
legs
Parallel wing
pads

Thorax
Wing pads

Figure 44. Gill tuffs

on thorax only,
Figure 41. Thorax Family Perlidae
slender and rounded
Figure 43. Wing
pads parallel,
Figure 42. Wing Family Capniidae
12 pads divergent

Figure 45. Gill tuffs on

thorax and first and
second abdominal
segments, Family
Pteronarcyidae
Figure 48. Family
Nemouridae

Figure 46. Distinctive color Figure 47. Pale strip on

patterns, Family Perlodidae thorax and abdomen, Family
Taeniopterygidae

12
 Key to the Families of Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
1. Slender body, head wider than thorax and abdomen, three long featherlike gills at end of
abdomen (often oar shaped), commonly called “damselfly” (Figure 49)…………..…. Go to 2
Stout body, head usually narrower than thorax and abdomen, five short extensions at tip
of abdomen, commonly called “dragonfly” (Figure 50)…..............................................Go to 3

2. First segment of antennae (closest to head) very long, usually as long as the rest of the
segments combined (Figure 51)……………...……Calopterygidae (broad-winged damselfly)
First segment of antennae (closest to head) same size as the rest of antennae segments
(Figure 52)……………………………………....Coenagrionidae (narrow-winged damselfly)

3. The end segment (bottom) of the “lower lip” (labium) spoon-shaped and large (Figure 53)….
………..….Corduliidae or Libellulidae (skimmer, emerald, green-eye, or cruiser dragonfly)
The end segment of the “lower lip” flat (Figure 54)………………………..…………..Go to 4

4. Antennae have four segments and are small and club-like (Figure 55)…………………….…..
................................................................................................Gomphidae (club-tail dragonfly)
Antennae have six or seven segments, not club-like…………...Aeshnidae (darner dragonfly)

Figure 49. Damselfly larvae

Figure 50. Dragonfly larvae Figure 51. First

antennae segment
long, Family
Calopterygidae

Figure 52. Equal

antennae segments, Figure 55. Club-like
Family Figure 54. Lower antennae with four
Coenagrionidae Figure 53. Spoon- lip flat segments, Family
shaped lower lip, Gomphidae
Families Corduliidae
or Libellulidae

13
 Key to the Families of Megaloptera
(Alderflies and Dobsonflies)
1. Last abdominal segment has single, long “tail”(Figure 56)……..............…..Sialidae (alderfly)
Last abdominal segment has two hooked “tails” (Figure 57)..............Corydalidae (dobsonfly)

Figure 56. Long single tail, Family

Sialidae

Figure 57. Two hooked tails,

Family Corydalidae

14
 Key to the Families of Trichoptera* (Caddisflies)
1. Larvae in coiled spiral case of small sand or pebbles resembling a snail shell (Figure 58)…….
……………………………………………...…Helicopsychidae (snail case-maker caddisfly)
Not as above……………………..………………………………………………….…..Go to 2

2. Top of each segment of the thorax covered with a plate (Figures 59-60)…………..…..Go to 3
Top of last segment of the thorax (closest to abdomen) soft or with only small hard areas, not
a plate (Figure 61)………………………...…………………………………………..…Go to 4

3. Abdomen has rows of gills, no portable case (Figure 59)……………………………………..

…………………………………………………….…Hydropsychidae (net-spinner caddisfly)
Abdomen without gills (Figure 60), portable case made of sand, silk or algae (Figure 62),
very small, abdomen usually enlarged or swollen (Figure 60)………………………………….
……………………………………………….……………….Hydroptilidae (micro caddisfly)

4. Top of middle segment of thorax soft or with only small hard areas (plates), partially covering
middle thorax segment not full plates (Figure 63) ………………….………….….…...Go to 5
Top of middle segment of thorax mostly covered by plates (Figures 64 and 68)………Go to 7

5. Top of last abdominal segment (at tail end) has a plate, larvae in a tortoise-shaped case made
of small rocks which they leave when disturbed (Figure 65), found only in coldwater streams
and springs of Northeast Iowa………………Glossosomatidae (saddle case-maker caddisfly)
Top of last abdominal segment has no plate, not as above…………………………...…Go to 6

6. Head entirely the same color, no patterns, mouth extension soft, white, and T-shaped (Figure
66)…………………………… ………………………..Philopotamidae (finger-net caddisfly)
Head has dark dots or blotches, mouth extension plated and widest near the head, not T-
shaped (Figure 67)…………………………….…Polycentropodidae (tube-making caddisfly)

7. Top of middle segment of the thorax covered by weak and sometimes separated plates
(Figure 68), plates may have dark curved bars (Figure 69), cases are usually narrow and
tapered (Figure 70)…..……………………………………………………..…….Leptoceridae
Top of middle segment of the thorax covered by usually two or four adjoining heavy
plates (Figure 64)………………………..………………………………..…………..…Go to 8

8. First abdominal segment (closest to thorax) has no noticeable bumps, case is narrow, square
or round, and may be banded due to varying shades of vegetation it is made of (Figure 71)…..
………..……………….………………….Brachycentridae (humpless case-maker caddisfly)
First abdominal segment (closest to thorax) has noticeable bumps, case usually not
banded (Figure 72)….……………………………………………..………..Limnephilidae

15
 Order Trichoptera*
*Note – Additional help in identifying the families of Tricohoptera can be found in the identification key Guide to
Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest by R.W. Bouchard, Jr. It is recommended that you use the IOWATER
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Key first and the Upper Midwest guide only when additional help is needed.

Plates

Gills
Figure 58. Spiral case,
Family Helicopsychidae Figure 59. Family
Hydropsychidae

Swollen Abdomen
Plates

Figure 61. No plates or only

Figure 60. Family small plates last segment of
Hydroptilidae the thorax

Figure 62. Various types of

portable cases

Figure 63. No plates or Figure 64. Middle

only small plates on thorax segment covered
middle thorax segment with adjoining plates
16
 Order Trichoptera*

Figure 66. Mouth

Figure 65. Rock case, extension, Family
Family Glossosomatidae Philopotamidae Figure 67. Dotted
head, Family
Polycentropodidae

Figure 70. Narrow

Figure 68. Weak Figure 69. Plates and tapered cases
plates covering with dark curved
middle thorax bars, Family
segment, Family Leptoceridae
Leptoceridae

Figure 71. Banded case, Family

Brachycentridae Figure 72. Bumps of first abdominal
segment, rock case, Family
Limnephilidae

17
Page left blank for spacing.

18
 Key to the Adult Families of Coleoptera (Beetles)
1. On the underside of body, large plates cover base of hind legs (Figure 73)……………………
……………………………………………………………..Haliplidae (crawling water beetle)
Not as above………………………………..………………………………….………..Go to 2

2. Two pair of eyes, one pair on top and one pair on bottom of head (Figure 74)………………...
………………………………………………………………..…..Gyrinidae (whirligig beetle)
Head has only one pair of undivided eyes………………………………...………...….Go to 3

3. Front of head has a distinct downward pointing snout (Figure 75)…...Curculionidae (weevil)
Not as above………………………….……………………………….………………...Go to 4

4. Body is streamlined, hind legs have swimming hairs (Figure 76-77)……………..…..Go to 5

Body is not very streamlined, no swimming hairs on hind legs (Figures 79- 80)……...Go to 6

5. Short, club-shaped antenna (Figure 81)………….… Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetle)

Longer antenna, not club-shaped (Figure 82)………… Dytiscidae (predaceous diving beetle)

6. Club-shaped antenna has a cuplike segment at the base of club (in the middle of antenna)
(Figure 78)…...............................................................Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetle)
Antenna in various forms but never with a cup-like segment at base of a club (Figures 81-
83, Not Figure 78) ………………………………………………………………..…….Go to 7

7. Antenna with comb-like club (Figure 83)……………...Dryopidae (long toed or riffle beetle)
Antenna in various forms but if club-shaped it is not a comb-like club (Figure 81-82, Not
Figure 83) …………………..………………………………...…….......Elmidae (riffle beetle)

Figure 73. Plates covering base of Figure 74. Two pairs of

hind legs, Family Haliplidae eyes, Family Gyrinidae

19
 Adults of the Order Coleoptera

Figure 75. Downward

snout, Family
Curculiondiae

Figure 76. Streamlined body,

swimming hairs on hind legs,
Family Hydrophilidae

Figure 77. Streamlined

body, swimming hairs on
hind legs, Family Dytiscidae
Figure 78. Non-streamlined body, no
swimming hairs, cuplike segment at
base of antenna club, Family
Hydrophilidae

Figure 80. Non-streamlined body, no

swimming hairs, Family Elmidae

Figure 79. Non-streamlined body, no

swimming hairs of Dryopidae

Figure 82.
Figure 81. Club- Long, pointed,
shaped antenna, Figure 83. Comb-like
not club- club antenna, Family
Family shaped antenna
Hydrophilidae Dryopidae

20
 Key to the Larval Families of Coleoptera (Beetles)
*Note – Additional help in identifying the larval families of Coleoptera can be found in the identification key Guide
to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest by R.W. Bouchard, Jr. It is recommended that you use the
IOWATER Benthic Macroinvertebrate Key first and the Upper Midwest guide only when additional help is needed.

1. Body disc-like with plates covering head and legs (Figure 84……Psephenidae (water penny)
Not as above…………………………………………………………..………….……..Go to 2

2. Legs have six segments, including claw (Figure 85)………………………..………..…Go to 3

Legs have five segments, including claw (Figure 86)…………………………..…..…..Go to 5

3. Abdomen has eight segments (Figure 87)…………..….Dytiscidae (predaceous diving beetle)

Abdomen has nine or ten segments (Figure 88-89)……….…………..………………...Go to 4

4. Claws double (Figure 88)……………………. …………….... …Gyrinidae (whirligig beetle)

Claws single (Figure 89)………………. ………….… …..Haliplidae (crawling water beetle)

5. Abdomen has eight segments, usually soft body (Figure 91-92)………………..….…..Go to 6

Abdomen has nine segments, usually hard body (Figure 90)…….........Elemidae (riffle beetle)

6. Antenna very long (Figure 91)…………………………………….… Scirtidae (marsh beetle)

Antenna shorter (Figure 92)…………………………Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetle)

Figure 85. Six segments on

legs

Figure 84. Disc-like body,

Family Psephenidae
Figure 86. Five segments
on legs

21
 Larvae of the Order Coleoptera

Figure 88. Double claw of the

Figure 87. Eight segmented abdomen
Family Gyrinidae
of the Family Dytiscidae

Figure 89. Single claw of the Family

Haliplidae Figure 90. Abdomen with nine
segments, hard body, Family
Elemidae

Figure 91. Very long antenna of the

Family Scirtidae Figure 92. Short antenna of
the Family Hydrophilidae

22
 Diagram of Insect Body Parts

Antennae

Head

Thorax (three segments)

Segmented Leg

Abdomen
(number of
segments varies)

23
 Glossary
Abdomen - the posterior section of the body behind the thorax

Abdominal segment - one of the parts of the abdomen that is divided or marked off by natural
boundaries

Amphipoda – the class that scuds or “freshwater shrimp” are a member of

Antennae - one of a pair of slender movable sensory organs on the head of insects and
crustaceans

Beetle - any of an order (Coleoptera) of insects having four wings of which the outer pair are
modified into stiff plates that protect the inner pair when at rest

Benthic - describes all things associated with the bottom, or substrate of a stream

Benthic Macroinvertebrates - Bottom-dwelling organisms that lack a backbone, inhabit streams

or lakes, and can be seen with the naked eye.

Biramous – a condition of appendages branching into two forks

Breathing tube – a structure extending from the body used to breath while underwater

Case - an outer covering or housing

Cephalothorax – a body segment containing a joined thorax and head

Chitin – a tough, protective, semitransparent substance, primarily a nitrogen-containing protein,

forming the principal component of arthropod exoskeletons and the cell walls of certain fungi

Clam/mussel - the common name for a number of species of bivalve mollusks

Class - a major category in biological taxonomy ranking above the order and below the phylum
or division

Claw - any of various sharp curved appendages especially at the end of a limb

Club-like - a heavy, usually tapering appendage

Comb-like club – pectinate, a heavy usually tapering appendage shaped like a toothed
instrument used especially for adjusting, cleaning, or confining hair

Crustacean – animals of the Subphylum Crustacea; have no discernible metamorphosis; two

pairs of antennae; have an exoskeleton composed of chitin; have specialized segmented

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appendages; the thorax or cephalothorax has five to eight appendages; the abdomen has six pairs
of appendages; appendages are usually biramous

Cuplike segment – cupule, a part of the body that is divided or marked off by natural boundaries
that resemble a cup

Decapoda – the class that crayfish are a member of

Disc-like – a body part shaped like a thin circular object

Divergent - differing from each other or from a norm

Exoskeleton - an external supportive covering of an animal

Family - a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and
below an order

Filament - a single thread or a thin flexible threadlike object, process, or appendage

Filamentous – having multiple filaments

Flatworm – animals of the Class Turbellaria; free-living; do not undergo metamorphosis with
soft, elongate, flattened body; unsegmented; head resembles a triangle and has no appendages

Fleshy lobes – appendages or objects resembling flesh

Foreleg - a front leg

Forked and fringed – an appendage divided into two or more branches and bordered with short
straight or twisted filaments

Gill - an organ for obtaining oxygen from water

Head capsule - a membrane or sac enclosing the head may be protected by hard plates

Hind leg – a rear leg

Hirudinea – the class that leeches are a member of

Immature larval – the early form of an animal that at hatching is unlike the adult form and must
metamorphose before assuming the adult characters

Insect - any of a class of arthropods with well-defined head, thorax, and abdomen, only three
pairs of legs, and typically one or two pairs of wings

Isopoda – the class that sowbugs are a member of

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Key out – using this document to obtain an explanation or identification of an organism

Labium - the lower lip of an insect

Lateral filament - a single thread or a thin flexible threadlike object, process, or appendage
situated on, directed toward, or coming from the side

Laterally compressed - to reduce in size or volume as if by squeezing so that the organism or

body part is wider than it is tall

Left spiral snail – the most common snail type found in Iowa; opening of the shell is toward the
left when viewed with the tip of the shell pointing up; a pollution tolerant group

Macroinvertebrate – an animal large enough to see that does not have a backbone

Minnow-like – describing a body shape where the head is larger than the body and the tail moves
in a way to resemble the tail fin of a fish

Mollusk – animals of the Phylum Mollusca, snails, clams and mussels, have a hard shell which
the body can be enclosed in

Mouth extension - a section forming an additional length to the natural opening through which
food passes into the body of an animal

Noticeable bump - relatively abrupt swelling of tissue on a surface

Nymph stage - a larva of an insect with incomplete metamorphosis that differs from the adult
especially in size and in its incompletely developed wings and genitalia

Oligochaeta – the class that aquatic earthworms are a member of

Order - a category of taxonomic classification ranking above the family and below the class

Phylum - one of the primary divisions of the animal kingdom

Physidae – the family that left spiral snails are a member of

Plate - a lamina or plaque that forms an armor of such on a part of an animal body

Portable case - an outer covering or housing capable of being carried or moved about

Proleg - a fleshy leg that occurs on an abdominal segment of some insect larvae but not in the
adult

Pseudopod – a soft appendage that looks like and may serve as a foot

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Right spiral snail – a type of pollution sensitive snail, opening of shell is facing the right when
viewed with the tip of the shell pointing up

Segmented – divided or marked off by natural boundaries

Segmented leg – a leg that is divided or marked off by natural boundaries

Spine – sharp, rigid, thorn-like extension on an animal

Streamlined - contoured to reduce resistance to motion through a fluid

Sucker – a mouth that various animals have for adhering or holding

Suction pad – an organ on a leech used for adhering or holding

Tarsal claw – a sharp, curved, cartilage appendage on the 1st pair of legs on a crustacean

Thorax - the second or middle region of the body, between the head and the abdomen, in insects
bearing the true legs and wings

True bug – insects of the order Hemiptera, these insects are mostly predators, swim with oar-like
hind legs or can walk on water by surface tension, usually breath by the means of an air store, and
have prominent eyes

True leg – one of the rather generalized segmental appendages of an insect used in walking and
crawling

Tuft - a small cluster of filaments attached or close together at the base and free at the opposite
ends

Tubellaria – the class that flatworms are a member of

Tusk - an elongated greatly enlarged tooth (in this context a cartilage-like substance) that
projects from the head and serves for digging food or as a weapon

Undivided eyes - an eye typical of crustaceans, insects, centipedes, and horseshoe crabs,
constructed of many functionally independent photoreceptor units separated by pigment cells

Unsegmented – a body part not divided by natural boundaries

Wing pads – a developing wing and its encasement

Worms - the common name for members of the Annelid phylum that are elongated, naked, soft-
bodied animals resembling an earthworm

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