Browns River tributary at Essex Elementary School

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Browns River tributary at Essex Elementary School
Stream code:	M09S1
Basin:	Winooski River Basin
State or Province:	Vermont
Latitude:	44.511929
Longitude:	-73.053857

This page is in need of additional work. If you have sampled this site please contact Declan (dmccabe@smcvt.edu) to add your sample to the database and iimprove this page. The following are the most common invertebrates collected from this stream site.

Chironomidae

Order

Diptera

Family

Chironomidae

Common name

Nonbiting midge

Tied fly

Griffith's Gnat

Midge larvae tend to be the most common macroinvertebrate at our sites. As with other Diptera, there are no true jointed legs. Chironomidae do have a pair of prolegs at each end and preserved individuals tend to curl into a 'C'. Identification past family requires slide-mounted heads. We have seen philopotamid caddisflies misidentified with the chironomids and we suspect that that happens when samples are being sorted from trays. Under a microscope, six prominent legs can be seen on members of the caddisfly family Philopotamidae.

More information on Philopotamidae.

Hydropsychidae

Order

Trichoptera (caddisfly)

Family

Hydropsychidae

Common name

net spinning caddisfly

Tied fly

Emergent Sparkle Pupa, Vermont Hare's Ear

This family of net-spinning caddisflies is very abundant at several sites. They are important filtering collectors and are quite common at urban and agricultural sites where particles of organic material can be important food resources. Genus-level identification is possible for mature specimens and we will include the genera we found at your site if possible.

When using the key, some features that are challenging to see are the forked trochantin and the paired sclerites in the folds between segments. Other, more easily seen key features include filamentous gills on the abdominal segments and the sclerotization of the dorsal surfaces of all three thoracic segments. Keep in mind that with smaller or more immature specimens, genus-level ID may not be possible.

Commonly found genera include Cheumatopsyche, Ceratopsyche, and Hydropsyche. Less commonly, we have found Arctopsyche and Potamyia.

Images of the forked trochantin and the paired sclerites.

Elmidae

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Elmidae

Common name

riffle beetle

We very commonly find adult and larval riffle beetles. The adults are clearly beetles, but the larvae can be confused with other orders. The forward pointing tooth on the front end of the larvae as described in the key can be a challenge to see, particularly in small individuals. Larvae are characterized by having a single tarsal claw at the end of their legs, which have 4 segments. Adults, on the other hand, have two tarsal claws at the end of each leg. Commonly encountered genera include Dubiraphia, Macroychu, Optioservus, Phanocerus, Promoresia, and Stenelmis.

Images of the adult and larval riffle beetles.

More information on Dubiraphia, Macronychus, Optioservus, Phanocerus, Promoresia, and Stenelmis.