Macroinverterbate Identification Resources

Author: NGO

Media Type: Website

Water Monitoring Keywords: Biological and Habitat, Volunteer Monitoring

Water Resource Type: Broadly Applicable

Resource Link: https://stroudcenter.org/macros/

Specific Agency Author: Stroud Water Research Center

Macroinvertebrates are animals without a backbone that can be seen with the naked eye. These bottom-dwelling animals include crustaceans and worms but most are aquatic insects. Beetles, caddisflies, stoneflies, mayflies, hellgrammites, dragonflies, true flies, and some moths are among the groups of insects represented in streams. Macroinvertebrates are an important link in the food web between the producers (leaves, algae) and higher consumers such as fish.