2mayflyanimationMany of the insects you see start their life in water.  The young stage of these insects is usually called a larvae or nymph.  Eventually the ones who are going to, leave the water and the skeleton they used there.  They have different ways of coming to land – some swim to the surface of the water and shed their old skeleton there while others crawl out onto a rock or piece of grass.  If you are walking next to a river or stream you can often see these old skeletons on the edge.  Regardless of how they do it, this time of changing skeletons is very vulnerable because they cannot do much to protect themselves, like fly away.  One of the reasons is they have to wait for their wings to be ready for the job.

StoneflyID-1024x910But once the wings are ready they can fly like crazy!  And what a beautiful sight it can be to see these little critters come out of the water hundreds at a time.  These mass migrations from the water to the air are often called “hatches.” 

Stoneflies

Order – Plecoptera

In the Water
stoneflypic

  • They are always very flat
  • Filament-like gills present near their legs
  • They always have 2 tail parts
  • Underneath rocks in fast flowing water.
  • Most eat algae and bacteria or leaves that they shred
  • Some eat other insects
  • Fish, Frogs, Birds, Other insects
  • Between 1 and 3 years – molting between 10 and 30 times

Need VERY clean water and are used to evaluate water pollution and stream health.  When there is not a lot of oxygen in the water, many species will do what looks like a push-up to increase the flow of water past their gills and help them breathe.

stone_fly_life_cycle-600x427Leaving the Water (Emerging)

  • Without exception, they emerge by crawling out of the water onto rocks, sticks, or other shoreline objects.
  • In some species the adult emerges from the nymph within inches of the water.
  • Others crawl up to ten feet back into the woods.

plecopt1

This keeps stoneflies safe from being eaten by trout at a stage when mayflies and caddisflies are the most vulnerable.

On the Land

  • Wings are folded flat over the back
  • They have 2 tail parts
  • Algae or lichens
  • Birds, Other insects
  • Between 1 and 4 weeks

MayFlyIDSmaller-999x1024αmáhkehis – Mayflies

Order – Ephemeroptera

In the Water

  • They are usually quite flat
  • Their color usually blends in with their habitat
  • Most are flat because they live on rocks or the stream bottom in fast flowing water.
  • Others burrow into the bottom of the stream, live in the vegetation or are active swimmers
  • Most eat algae and bacteria
  • Others filter stuff out of the water, scrape vegetation off the rocks or eat other insects
  • Fish, Frogs, Birds, Other insects
  • As little as 4 weeks and as long as 4 years
  • Most need VERY clean water.  Are used to evaluate water pollution/stream health.

may_fly_life_cycle2Leaving the Water (Emerging)

  • They float to the surface, their back splits open and wings come out.  This is a VERY vulnerable time.
  • Once strong enough, they fly to shelter.
  • They molt again so that their legs and tail can grow longer.  They are the only insect that do this!

dun_spin2In some species almost the entire population will emerge at once – this is usually called a hatch. Hatches are a great time for imitation with fly fishing.

On the Land

  • They hold their wings together high above their back
  • They almost always have 3 tail parts
  • The adults do not eat – they only reproduce
  • Fish, Frogs, Birds, Other insects
  • As little as 2 hours and as long as 14 days

asihkhalάsəsso – Caddisflies

CaddisLarva

TrumpetCase

Order – Tricoptera 

In the Water

  • Similar to worms with legs on one end
  • Most live in cases they build out of sand, rock, twigs, or leaf pieces held together with the silk they produce.
  • Some of those who are free-living spin nets to catch food
  • Some replace their case as they grow, others renovate the old one, some carry the case around, others stick them to an object.
  • One group of big caddisflies are predator
  • Almost anything (plants, bacteria, other insects) in many different ways (shredding, scraping or filtering)
  • Fish, other insects
  • Easier to catch because they drift a lot
  • Between 2 weeks and 1 year
  • Some species need very clean water
  • Others can tolerate much higher levels of pollution

caddis_fly_life_cycleLeaving the Water (Emerging)

  • Most rise to the surface and struggle through – usually taking flight quickly once they’re out of the water, but slow species can drift long distances half submerged.
  • Others crawl out onto rocks or sticks.
  • Some rise to the surface and swim quickly across it to shore.
  • adultcaddis_troutnut-283x300All have mandibles to chew their way out of their cocoon
    and emerge.

On the Land

  • Wings are held tent-like over the abdomen
  • If they eat it is only liquids
  • Fish, Frogs, Birds, Other insects
  • Between a few days and a few months

DragonID-905x1024ačəssahtəkʷe – Dragon and Damselflies

Order – Odonata

For more information on the dragonflies and damselflies in Maine click here

Dragonflies

Dragonflies in the Water

  • Sturdy bodies with wing pads
  • Slow moving or still water.
  • They crawl around or swim by intaking water through their mouths and propelling it out their posteriors like a tiny jet
  • Other insects – they are extremely good predators
  • Fish
  • Less than 1 year and up to 4 years
  • Molting between 8 and 15 times
  • Generally need clean water
  • Can tolerate lower water quality than some other insects

dflyemcollage_horizDragonflies Leaving the Water (Emerging)

  • They crawl out of the water
  • Their back splits open and they begin to push themselves out of their old skeleton
  • They fill up their wings and abdomen with fluid
  • 2483225326_238d7a17ee_o-600x474They get rid of the excess fluid and fly away

Dragonflies on the Land

  • After landing wings are held out to the sides
  • Large numbers of insects
  • Birds
  • A few weeks to a few months

damselID-980x1024DAMSELFLIES

Damselflies in the Water

  • Slender bodies with wing pads
  • Slow moving or still water.
  • They swim by awkwardly wiggling.
  • Other insects – they are fierce predators
  • Fish
  • Less than 1 year and up to 4 years
  • Molting between 8 and 15 times
  • Generally need clean water
  • Can tolerate lower water quality than some other insects

damsel_lifecycle2Damselflies Leaving the Water (Emerging)

  • They crawl out of the water
  • Their back splits open and they begin to push themselves out of their old skeleton
  • They fill up their wings and abdomen with fluid

  • CAAEfl

    They get rid of the excess fluid and fly away

Damselflies on the Land

  • After landing wings are held folded together above the back
  • Large numbers of insects
  • Birds
  • A few weeks to a few months