Under the Microscope

A few Argia sp. from the family Coenagrionidae, members of the suborder Zygoptera (damselflies) and order Odonata.

I have finally come across the Microsoft Ice software on the lab computer, enabling me to take close up pictures of larger organisms at high magnification and seamlessly stitch them together! This is Calopteryx, a genus of broadwinged damselfly in the family Calopterygidae. Found in moderate, flowing current, usually on subaquatic vegetation, or on grasses the hang into the water. They blend in very well to thick clumps of vegetation, letting them sneak up on prey, and away from predators.

Genus: Calopteryx

Family: Calopterygidae

Suborder: Zygoptera

Order: Odonata

Collected in Trucka Brook, Adirondack Park.

These are adults of Dineutus sp., a genus of water beetle in the whirligig family: Gyrinidae. They are a common sight on the surface of many water bodies, which they are especially suited for. Take special notice of their compound eyes. A set of eyes on top that looks up at the air, and a set of eyes on bottom that looks into the water.

The whirligig family gets its name from the rapid circular swimming movements performed by these beetles. They are fast swimmers, up to 1m/s or 2.3mph. 

Though they spend most of their time on the surface breathing air, they can dive into the water to hunt prey, trapping an air bubble under their wings for breathing purposes.

The adults will eat just about anything available, but nothing eats them, due to defensive secretions that repel predators.

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Gyrinidae

Genus: Dineutus

Females of giant water bugs will lay their eggs on the backs of the males, who attend to the eggs by using their hind legs to brush oxygenated water onto them.

You may have also heard giant water bugs referred to as "toe biters." They can indeed inflict some serious pain for their size if not properly handled, and even though they do eat species much larger than they are, humans are not typical fare.

We would often find these opportunistic feeders eating the larval fish in emigration traps in the wetlands of the St. Lawrence River. Can't blame them for happening upon an easy meal.

Genus: Belostoma

Family: Belostomatidae

Order: Hemiptera (true bugs)

Belostoma sp., in the Giant Water Bug family (Belostomatidae), are voracious predators. Typically they hang down from vegetation, with only their retractable breathing straps (located on the tip of their abdomen) above water. When prey get close they use their raptorial front legs to grab their meal and secure it. Giant water bugs are strong swimmers, and will also actively pursue prey. If their target is on the large side they will hold on to it while it swims about, slowly killing it with poisonous salivary enzymes.

They will consume just about anything they can latch onto: insects, tadpoles, frogs, fish. There are even reports of finding giant water bugs latched onto small birds.  Genus: Belostoma

Family: Belostomatidae

Order: Hemiptera (true bugs)

Collected on Nine Mile Creek, Onondaga County, NY.

This is part of a trilobite from the Ordovician period. As far as I can ascertain this is Cryptolithus, in the order Ptychopariida.

The perforations above are part of the head shield, which may have functioned as a sieve. Water would rush through the perforations and small bits of food would be strained out.

I collected these crinoid stems in northern Kentucky a few weeks ago. And while they are aquatic invertebrates like everything else on this blog, they are 450 million years old… unlike everything else on this blog. Adults in the class Crinoidea, or sea lilies, attach to the ocean bottom with these stems. The stems are quite common to find in high densities; sometimes they make up entire limestone beds. The arms and calyx of the lilies are much more difficult to find.

Changing it up briefly tonight! I collected these crinoid stems in northern Kentucky a few weeks ago. And while they are aquatic invertebrates like everything else on this blog, they are 450 million years old... unlike everything else on this blog. Adults in the class Crinoidea, or sea lilies, attach to the ocean bottom with these stems. The stems are quite common to find in high densities; sometimes they make up entire limestone beds. The arms and calyx of the lilies are much more difficult to find.

The top picture is a case made by a caddisfly in the genus Platycentropus. The larvae stack small, short pieces of detritus at varying angles to build a short, bulky home. The bottom picture is the Platycentropus in its case.

Order: Trichoptera

Family: Limnephilidae

Genus: Platycentropus

Not the prettiest bug, but a pretty neat one. Metrobates is a member of the water strider family. They spread their enormously long legs to distribute their weight and use surface tension to stay on top of the water. 

Order: Hemiptera

Family: Gerridae

Genus: Metrobates

Agnetina, members of the family Perlidae (Order: Plecoptera), are very opportunistic feeders; consuming anything from mayflies, beetles, crustaceans, caddisflies, and even other stoneflies

Order: Plecoptera

Family: Perlidae

Genus: Agnetina

A gaggle of Agnetina sp. from Chittenango Creek in Central New York. Members of the family Perlidae, these guys prefer the undersides of large stones and rocks in fast streams. In slower water they cannot obtain enough dissolved oxygen simply by staying still so they bend and straighten their legs to create currents over their gills; push-ups, so to speak. 

Order: Plecoptera

Family: Perlidae

Genus: Agnetina

Peltoperla, one of the roachlike stoneflies, of the family Peltoperlidae and order Plecoptera. The Peltoperlids typically live in cool, small streams, and are very sensitive to environmental stressors. When Peltoperlids are present, they are often in high abundance. Up to 500 per square meter.

Plecoptera, Peltoperlidae, Peltoperla

Oswego County, NY