Freshwater-insect
Guides
Attenella margarita
spiny crawler mayfly
Attenella margarita is a species of spiny crawler mayfly in the family Ephemerellidae. It exhibits a disjunct east-west distribution pattern across North America, which is rare among mayflies. The species has been documented from the southern half of Canada and the continental United States, with a southeastern range extension to North Carolina representing approximately 1,300 km beyond previously known western localities.
Ceraclea tarsipunctata
Ceraclea tarsipunctata is a species of caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, described by Vorhies in 1909. It belongs to a genus known for having antennae longer than the body, a distinctive trait within Trichoptera. The species is recorded from North America with limited observational data available.
Clioperla clio
Clio Stripetail
Clioperla clio is a species of green-winged stonefly and the sole member of the monotypic genus Clioperla. It belongs to the family Perlodidae, a group of predatory stoneflies commonly known as stripetails. The species is endemic to the Nearctic region and has been documented across the eastern and southeastern United States. Like other perlodids, it is associated with freshwater habitats during its immature stages.
Cylloepus parkeri
Parker's cylloepus riffle beetle
Cylloepus parkeri is a species of riffle beetle in the family Elmidae, described by Sanderson in 1953. It is known from North America and belongs to a group of beetles specialized for living in fast-flowing aquatic environments. The species epithet honors an individual with the surname Parker.
Donacia cincticornis
Girdle-horned Pond Lily Leaf Beetle
Donacia cincticornis is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae, characterized by its association with aquatic vegetation. The species is known from the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Three subspecies have been described: D. c. cincticornis, D. c. tenuis, and D. c. tryphera. Like other members of the genus Donacia, it is closely tied to freshwater habitats.
Donacia dissimilis
Donacia dissimilis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae. Like other members of its genus, it is an aquatic or semi-aquatic beetle associated with freshwater habitats. The species was described by Schaeffer in 1925 and is known from North America.
Dubiraphia quadrinotata
riffle beetle
Dubiraphia quadrinotata is a species of riffle beetle in the family Elmidae. It is found in North America. The specific epithet 'quadrinotata' suggests four spots or markings, though detailed morphological descriptions are not readily available in the provided sources.
Enochrus californicus
Enochrus californicus is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. The species was described by Horn in 1890. It occurs in aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats across western North America and Mexico. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with freshwater environments where it scavenges on decaying organic matter.
Haliplus robertsi
crawling water beetle
Haliplus robertsi is a species of crawling water beetle in the family Haliplidae, first described by Zimmermann in 1924. The species is currently accepted as valid, though some taxonomic sources have historically treated it as a synonym of Haliplus (Haliplus) immaculicollis. As a member of the Haliplidae, it belongs to a family of small aquatic beetles commonly found in freshwater habitats. Like other haliplids, it is adapted to life in aquatic environments with specialized morphological features.
Hesperocorixa obliqua
Hesperocorixa obliqua is a species of water boatman in the family Corixidae, first described by Hungerford in 1925. It belongs to the genus Hesperocorixa, a group of aquatic true bugs adapted to freshwater environments. The species is recorded from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in published sources.
Hesperophylax designatus
silver-striped sedge, giant golden caddis, silver-striped northern caddisfly
Hesperophylax designatus is a species of northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae, commonly known as the silver-striped sedge or giant golden caddis. It is one of seven recognized species in the Nearctic genus Hesperophylax. The species has been observed in Colorado at bioblitz events and is documented across North America with 133 iNaturalist observations.
Ironodes
Ironodes is a genus of mayflies in the family Heptageniidae, first described by Traver in 1935. Members of this genus are part of the diverse Heptageniidae family, commonly known as flat-headed mayflies due to their distinctive head morphology. The genus is represented by relatively few observations, suggesting it may be uncommon, geographically restricted, or underreported in surveys.
Iswaeon anoka
small minnow mayfly
Iswaeon anoka is a species of small minnow mayfly in the family Baetidae, first described by Daggy in 1945. The species is currently recognized under the genus Iswaeon, though it has been treated as a synonym of Heterocloeon anoka in some taxonomic databases. Like other members of Baetidae, it belongs to the diverse group of small mayflies commonly found in freshwater habitats.
Listronotus tuberosus
Listronotus tuberosus is an underwater weevil in the family Curculionidae, distinguished from related species by its aquatic habitat. It is found in North America, with records from Canada including Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Québec. The species was described by J.L. LeConte in 1876. Very little is known about its biology, ecology, or life history.
Neohaemonia nigricornis
Neohaemonia nigricornis is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae. The species inhabits freshwater environments in North America, with a distribution spanning the northern United States and southern Canada. As a member of the tribe Haemoniini, it shares adaptations for aquatic life with related genera, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Neoperla coosa
Coosa stone
Neoperla coosa, commonly known as the Coosa stone, is a species of common stonefly in the family Perlidae. It was described by Smith & Stark in 1998. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, and New York. As a member of the Perlidae family, it belongs to a group of predatory stoneflies often associated with clean, flowing freshwater habitats.
Nothotrichia
Nothotrichia is a genus of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae, established by Flint in 1967. The genus belongs to the subfamily Hydroptilinae and is characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate it from related genera. As with other Hydroptilidae, members are small-bodied caddisflies with reduced wing venation.
Oecetis cinerascens
Ashy Long-horned Caddisfly
Oecetis cinerascens is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, commonly known as the Ashy Long-horned Caddisfly. It is native to North America and was first described by Hagen in 1861 under the basionym Setodes cinerascens. As a member of the Leptoceridae, it possesses the characteristically elongated antennae that give this family its common name. The species has been documented through over 500 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is regularly encountered by naturalists.
Onocosmoecus unicolor
northern caddisfly
Onocosmoecus unicolor is a species of caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae, commonly known as the northern caddisfly. It was described by Banks in 1897. The species is distributed across North America and is part of the diverse caddisfly fauna associated with freshwater habitats.
Oxyethira zeronia
microcaddisfly
Oxyethira zeronia is a species of microcaddisfly described by Ross in 1941. It belongs to the family Hydroptilidae, the largest family of caddisflies, whose members are characterized by their small size and reduced wing venation. The species is recorded from North America, though specific habitat and ecological details remain poorly documented.
Paracymus confluens
Paracymus confluens is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by Wooldridge in 1966. It is a small aquatic beetle found in freshwater habitats across parts of North America. Like other members of the genus Paracymus, it is associated with aquatic environments and contributes to nutrient cycling as a detritivore.
Paraleptophlebia vaciva
pronggilled mayfly
Paraleptophlebia vaciva is a species of pronggilled mayfly in the family Leptophlebiidae. It is found in southwestern Canada, the northwestern United States, and Alaska. As a member of Leptophlebiidae, it possesses the characteristic forked gills on abdominal segments that give the group its common name.
Paraleuctra sara
Appalachian needlefly
Paraleuctra sara, commonly known as the Appalachian needlefly, is a species of rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. It was first described by Claassen in 1937. The species is found in eastern North America, with documented records from Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, and Indiana. As a member of the Leuctridae family, it belongs to a group of stoneflies characterized by their distinctive wing posture at rest.
Perloidea
common stoneflies, perloid stoneflies
Perloidea is a superfamily of stoneflies within the suborder Arctoperlaria, characterized by well-developed mouthparts adapted for predation or omnivory. Members are primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere. The superfamily includes several families of medium to large-sized stoneflies with diverse ecological roles in freshwater ecosystems.
Phaenopsectra punctipes
Phaenopsectra punctipes is a species of non-biting midge in the family Chironomidae, first described by Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann in 1817. It belongs to the subfamily Chironominae and tribe Chironomini. The species is recorded from Europe, with confirmed presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden based on distribution records.
Psilotreta labida
mortarjoint casemaker
Psilotreta labida is a species of caddisfly in the family Odontoceridae, commonly known as the mortarjoint casemakers. The species was described by Ross in 1944. It is known from North America. Larvae in this family construct distinctive case structures using sand grains and silk, cemented together in a manner resembling mortar joints.
Renocera
Renocera is a genus of marsh flies (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) comprising approximately eight described species. Larvae of multiple species are confirmed predators of fingernail clams (family Sphaeriidae), earning them the common designation of 'clam-killing flies.' The genus has been documented in both Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. Detailed life histories have been established for several species, including R. pallida.
Serratella levis
spiny crawler mayfly
Serratella levis is a species of spiny crawler mayfly in the family Ephemerellidae. It was described by Day in 1954 and is found in North America, specifically in the western United States. As a member of the spiny crawler mayflies, it belongs to a group characterized by distinctive morphological features and ecological adaptations to freshwater habitats.
Stenelmis lignicola
riffle beetle
Stenelmis lignicola is a species of riffle beetle in the family Elmidae, described in 1992. The specific epithet "lignicola" derives from Latin roots meaning "wood-dweller," suggesting an association with woody substrates. As a member of the riffle beetle family, it is adapted to aquatic or semi-aquatic environments with flowing water. The species is known from North America.
Stenelmis parva
Stenelmis parva is a species of riffle beetle in the family Elmidae, described by Sanderson in 1938. The species occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Stenelmis, it inhabits aquatic environments with flowing water.
Sweltsa lateralis
Curved Sallfly
Sweltsa lateralis, commonly known as the curved sallfly, is a species of green stonefly in the family Chloroperlidae. It was first described by Nathan Banks in 1911 under the basionym Alloperla lateralis. The species is found in eastern North America, with records from Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, and other states. Like other members of Chloroperlidae, it is associated with clean, cool freshwater habitats.