Aquatic Macroinvertebrates (Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Insecta)

We will focus on insects but there are other aquatic macroinvertebrates that are part of the Phylum: Arthropoda, such as:

• Sub-phylum: Crustacea (for example, crayfish)
• Phylum: Mollusca (snails, mussels, clams)
• Phylum: Annelida (leeches)

If you’re interested in identifying some of the other macroinvertebrates you might have found, start here.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates that are insects and that inhabit North America include:

• Dragonflies (Order: Odonata, Sub-order Anisoptera)



Anax junius



• Damselflies (Order: Odonata, Sub-order Zygoptera)



Lestes eurinus

Lestes eurinus (prementum)

Enallagma civile

Ischnura verticalis



• Mayflies (Order: Ephemeroptera)



Callibaetis spp. (Adult)

Callibaetis spp.



• Stoneflies (Order: Plecoptera)


• True bugs (Order: Hemiptera)



Hydrometra spp.

Belostoma flumineum



• Dobsonflies, fishflies, alderflies (Order: Megaloptera)


• Water beetles (Order: Coleoptera)



Tropisternus spp.

Hydrophilus spp.

Berosus spp.



• Caddisflies (Order: Trichoptera)



Family: Phryganeinae – case

Family: Phryganeinae



• True flies (Order: Diptera)



Family: Chironomidae