Insects:
Chironomus sp. Fly larvae:
Larval stages of Chironomidae can be found in almost any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat, including treeholes, bromeliads, rotting vegetation, soil, and in sewage and artificial containers.
They form an important fraction of the macro zoobenthos of most freshwater ecosystems. They are often associated with degraded or low biodiversity ecosystems because some species have adapted to virtually anoxic conditions and are dominant in polluted waters.
Larvae of some species are bright red in color due to a hemoglobin analog; these are often known as “bloodworms”. Their ability to capture oxygen is further increased by making undulating movements.
Adults can be pests when they emerge in large numbers. They can damage paint, brick, and other surfaces with their droppings. When large numbers of adults die they can build up into malodorous piles. They can provoke allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Berosus sp. Water beetles (Coleoptera):
1.5–37 mm long. Body length/maximum body width 1.3–2.55. Elytral length/pronotal length 1.7–4.85. Base of prothorax not or scarcely narrower than the combined elytral bases, or distinctly narrower than the combined elytral bases. Greatest prothoracic width not narrower or only slightly narrower than the greatest elytral width, or distinctly narrower than greatest elytral width.
Beetles oval to elongate-oval; not necked; somewhat waisted. Upper surfaces of body glabrous or subglabrous, or non-glabrous; not bristly; exhibiting scales or scale-like setae, or with neither scales nor scale-like setae.
Coleoptera larva:
Species in the order Coleoptera are generally characterized by a particularly hard exoskeleton and hard forewings (elytra, singular elytron). These elytra distinguish beetles from most other insect species, except for a few species of Hemiptera. The beetle’s exoskeleton is made up of numerous plates called sclerites, separated by thin sutures.
This design creates the armored defenses of the beetle while maintaining flexibility. The general anatomy of a beetle is quite uniform, although specific organs and appendages may vary greatly in appearance and function between the many families in the order. Like all insects, beetles’ bodies are divided into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.
Coleopteran internal morphology is similar to other insects, although there are several examples of novelty. Such examples include species of water beetle who use air bubbles in order to dive under the water, and can remain submerged thanks to passive diffusion allowing oxygen to transfer from the water into the bubble.
Centroptilum sp:
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head hypognathous
- labrum broad, square with a wide, deep, V-shaped median notch
- incisors of mandibles separate and toothed
- thorax oval to circular in cross-section
- tarsal claws long and narrow, approximately 1/2 length of tarsus, with or without very fine bristles
- hind wing pads present
- gills single, plate-like, on abdominal segments 1-7
- 3 caudal filaments present, mid filament shorter than lateral filaments, fringed on inner margins
Tasmanocoenis sp:
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tuft of setae near anterior margin of eye usually present
- setae present or absent on abdominal segment 1
- sternite of abdominal segment 9 rounded, with convex posterior margin which may have a slight indentation
- postero-lateral spines on abdomen well developed
- gill cover with mesal ridge weakly developed, extending into posterior half of cover
- body, legs and gill cover with setae
- tibiae and tarsi may be banded
- fore femora with a well developed transverse row of setae
- tarsal claws with basal teeth present or absent, hind tarsal claw usually with teeth plus a comb of bristles
Atalophlebia sp:
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labrum narrower than clypeus, relatively short, length to width ratio 2.1:2.5
- mandibles with outer incisor robust, triangular, with sub-apical denticles
- maxillary palp moderately long
- labium with glossae turned under ventrally
- terminal segment of labial palp sub-triangular, with a series of stout spines along the inner margin
- legs usually banded
- tarsal claws with ventral series of small denticles, although one species has smooth claws
- postero-lateral spines usually present on abdominal segments 2 to 9, although in a few species these are reduced on the more anterior segments
- gills present on abdominal segments 1 to 7, each gill consisting of an upper and a lower lamella, each lamella with margin divided to form 3 or more digits
- Total length: up to 15mm
Sigara sp. Corixidae Water Boatmen):
Corixidae generally have a long flattened body up to 13 millimetres (0.5 in) long and have extremely fine dark brown or black striations marking the wings. They have four long rear legs and two short front ones. The hind legs are covered with hairs and shaped like oars, hence the name “water boatman”. Their front legs are scoop shaped at the tip. They also have a triangular head with short, triangular mouthparts.
Unlike their relatives the backswimmers, who swim upside down near the surface of the water, Corixidae swim right side up near the bottom of ponds or streams. It is easy to tell the two types of insects apart simply by looking at where the insect is in the water and whether it is swimming upside down or not.
Anisops sp. Notonectidae Water Boatmen):
Notonectidae is a cosmopolitan family of aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly called backswimmers or “Lalobugs” because they swim upside down. They are all predators, up to nearly 2 cm in size.
They are similar in appearance to Corixidae (Water boatmen), but can be separated by differences in their dorsal-ventral coloration, front legs, and predatory behavior. Their dorsum is convex, lightly colored without cross striations. Their front tarsi are not scoop-shaped and their hind legs are fringed for swimming. There are two subfamilies, Notonectinae and Anisopinae, each containing four genera.
The most common genus of backswimmers is Notonecta - streamlined, deep-bodied bugs up to 16 mm long, green, brown or yellowish in colour. As the common name indicates, these aquatic insects swim on their backs, vigorously paddling with their long, hair-fringed hind legs.
Backswimmers are predators and attack prey as large as tadpoles and small fish, and can inflict a painful “bite” on a human being (actually, similar to a mosquito “bite”, it is a stab with their tubular mouthpart). They inhabit still freshwater, e.g. lakes, pools, marshes, and are sometimes found in garden ponds. Although primarily aquatic, they can fly well and so can disperse easily to new habitat.
Hemicordulia tau Dragonfly larvae:
A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera. It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body.
Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest. Dragonflies possess six legs (like any other insect), but most of them cannot walk well. Dragonflies are some of the fastest insects in the world.
Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, and very rarely butterflies. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as “nymphs”, are aquatic.
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