Aquatic Insects of Colorado
Although less than 3% of all species of insects have aquatic life stages, insects often constitute over 90% of the macroinvertebrates (animals that are large enough to see by the unaided eye and live at least part of their life within or upon available substrate in a body of water) in mountain streams.
The following groups make up nearly 100% of the aquatic insects in Colorado mountain streams:
- Stoneflies
- Mayflies
- Caddisflies
- True Flies
- Elmid Beetles
Below are some examples of aquatic insects in Colorado. Each example has an illustration and a brief description of the insect.
- Stoneflies: Order Plecoptera
- Pteronarcys californica nymph (Plecoptera: Pteronarcyidae)
- Mayflies: Order Ephemeroptera
- Drunella grandis nymph (Ephemeroptera: Ephemerellidae)
- Caddisflies: Order Trichoptera
- Arctopsyche grandis larva (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae)
- Beetles: Order Coleoptera
- Tropisternus sublaevis (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)
- True Flies: Order Diptera
- Chironomus sp. larva (Diptera: Chironomidae)
- Dragonflies and Damselflies: Order Odonata
- Ophiogomphus severus nymph (Odonata: Anisoptera)
- True Bugs: Hemiptera
- Ambrysus mormon nymph (Hemiptera: Naucoridae)
Source:
Ward, J.V. and B.C. Kondratieff. An Illustrated Guide to the Mountain Stream Insects of Colorado. Niwot, Colorado: University Press of Colorado, 1992.
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