Pond Critters

(All photographs were taken by Stanley Szczytko)

Caddisfly Larvae and Adults

A caddisfly with a case (above) and without (below)

You will often find caddisfly larvae in the muck of Minister Lake. These clever little architects use silk that they make with special salivary glands to cement stones, twigs,and leaves together. This portable shelter covers most of their soft body, and is great camouflage! Different types of caddisflies use different materials to create their cases.

These creatures breathe through abdominal gills, and will eat anything from decaying matter, plants, and even other insects.

More information about a caddisfly's life cycle: Creek Connections

Adults are mostly nocturnal and live only a few weeks.

Scuds

sideswimmer Scuds are small omnivorous scavengers. In turn they are an important food for many aquatic insects and animals.

They are also called sideswimmers, because they move from side to side instead of forward. These quick moving aquatics have gills behind their front legs.

See a movie of a scud's gills working from Lousiana State University's "Scope on a Rope"

Water Boatmen and Backswimmers

This is a photo of a water boatman. They breathe surface air, and use an amazing adaptation to do so. They carry a bubble of air under their wings which they then get oxygen from when underwater.

These aquatic bugs eat mainly plant material. Their oar-shaped back legs make them excellent swimmers.

Backswimmers look very similar to waterboatman, but they swim upside down. They have piercing mouthparts to suck the fluid from their prey: other insects, minnows, and snails.

These amazing insects also carry air bubbles that let them stay underwater for six hours! They have a light back and a dark belly for two-way camoflauge.

Mosquito Larvae and Adults

moquito larvae This mosquito larva is hanging upside down near the water's surface. This is a common position for the it, because the larva's breathing tube is located near its rear end.

Larvae filter microscopic plants, animals, and debris with their brush-like mouths.

See a close up of a larva's adaptations: Creek Connections

Mosquitoes go through several stages before they become an adult. They start off as an egg, hatch into a larva, turn into a pupa, and then transform into a terrestrial adult.

Only adult females draw blood, which they need in order to lay their eggs. The males live on plant juices and nectar.

Water Striders

water strider

How do water striders walk on water? They have thousands of tiny hairs on their feet that keep them from breaking the water's surface.

Water striders are predators that grab their prey with their short front legs.

See a close-up of a water strider's adaptations: Creek Connections

Photograph by (C) Andrew Thornton

Dragonfly Nymphs and Adults

Dragonfly nymphs, the larval stage of the life cycle, are a common resident in Minister Lake.

They are fierce predators that eat aquatic insects, macroinvertebrates, and even small fish and tadpoles! Their amazing mouths have a long, hinged lower lip that is tucked under their bodies. When hunting, the lower lip can shoot out and grab prey like an extra arm!

Information about a dragonfly's lifecycle: Creek Connections

Adult dragonflies usually rest with their wings spread.

Damselfly Nymphs and Adults

Damselfly Larvae Damselfly nymphs are often found in Minister Lake. They have three tail-like gills near their rear end, and are the larval stage of the life cycle.

Damselfly nymphs eat other insects, and have a mouth similar to a dragonfly nymph's. They spend most of their time waiting for prey at the bottom of Minister Lake.

Information on a damselfly's lifecycle: Creek Connections

Adult damselflies are more delicate than dragonflies, and usually rest with their wings closed.

Predaceous Diving Beetles

diving beetle These beetles are incredible predators and will consume a variety of aquatic creatures, even small fish!

Predaceous diving beetles have amazing jaws, which are hollow like hypodermic needles. The jaws nab prey, shoot digestive juices into it, and then suck up the liquified meal.

Notice how this beetle has stored a bubble of air under its wings.

Giant Water Beetles

giant water bug These beetles hang out on vegetation, waiting to pounce on their prey: small fish, tadpoles, insects, snails, and macroinvertebrates. They consume their prey in much the same way that predaceous diving beetles do.

Giant Water Beetles have wings and often leave the water to fly about, you may even see them near lights on a summer night!

Nature Navigator