EN 445 - AQUATIC INSECTS
3 Credits
INSTRUCTOR: : Boris Kondratieff
C15 Plant Science
491-7314
AQUATIC INSECTS is a basic course in the taxonomy and biology of
the insects most commonly encountered in freshwater habitats.
Emphasis is placed on identification of aquatic insects and
important aspects of their biology such as life cycles, habitat
preferences, feeding habits, adaptations to environments, and
functions in ecosystems. It is primarily intended for persons
interested in careers in aquatic ecology, fisheries science,
environmental science, or sanitary engineering. It is recommended
that students have a course in general entomology or equivalent
experience before taking Aquatic Insects.
TIME AND ROOM: Lecture: 10:00-10:50am M&W (E100)
Lab: 1:10- 2:50pm M&W (E100)
TEXTS: (1) An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North
America- Merritt and Cummins, eds. (Available in Bookstore)
(2) A Synopsis of General Entomology - Voshell (Provided
by Entomology Department)
(3) An Illustrated Guide to the Mountain Stream Insects of
Colorado - Ward and Kondratieff (optional)
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course a student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a knowledge of the taxonomy of aquatic insects
(adults and immatures):
a. identify basic morphological structures common to all aquatic
insects.
b. identify all aquatic insects to order on sight.
c. identify common aquatic insects to family on sight.
d. identify most immature aquatic insects to genus with taxonomic
keys and microscope.
2. Describe selected aspects of the biology of aquatic insects:
a. behavior
b. habitat preferences
c. feeding habits
d. life history
e. metamorphosis
f. physiology
g. reproduction
h. adaptations to freshwater environment
i. functions in aquatic ecosystems
3. Demonstrate current methods used in aquatic entomology:
a. collecting
b. preserving
c. preparing specimens for study
d. curating
EVALUATION:
Lecture: Test 150 pts
Test 150 pts
Lab:
Quizzes (4 - lowest = 3 at 10 points each) 30 pts
Collection 200 pts
Final Exam (Lab Practical) 70 pts
TOTAL 600 pts
GRADING:
A 92% 549 pts C 72% 429 pts
A- 90% 537 pts C- 70% 417 pts
B+ 88% 525 pts D+ 68% 405 pts
B 82% 489 pts D 62% 369 pts
B- 80% 477 pts D- 60% 357 pts
C+ 78% 465 pts F < 59% <356 pts
SYLLABUS:
Month Week Lecture Lab
*Aug. 3&4 Orientation
Sep. 1 General entomology Orientation
2 General entomology External morphology
3 Introduction to aquatic insects Orders of aquatic
insects
4 Ephemeroptera Ephemeroptera
Oct. 1 Odonata Odonata: Quiz 1
2 --------------------------- FIELD TRIP -----------
3 Ephemeroptera/Plecoptera
4 Hemiptera Hemiptera: Quiz 2
Nov. 1 ------------------------------FIELD TRIP-------------
Review and collection
3 Megaloptera Megaloptera
4 Coleoptera Coleoptera
Dec. 1 Trichoptera
2 Trichoptera/Diptera Trichoptera/Diptera:
Quiz 3
FINAL EXAM (Lab Practical)
COLLECTION:
Requirements and Scoring
A major part of this course is a collection which will be 1/3 of
your grade. Undergraduates will work in pairs and turn in one
collection per pair. Graduate students must work individually.
The Basic Collection consists of the following:
Ephemeroptera 11 taxa
Odonata 5 taxa
Plecoptera 8 taxa
Hemiptera 7 taxa
Coleoptera 5 taxa
Trichoptera 11 taxa
Diptera 8 taxa
TOTAL 55 taxa
[The total collection consists of the following:]
Basic Collection 110 pts
Extra taxa or reared specimens 50 pts
Technique and effort 40 pts
TOTAL 200 pts
Adults and immatures of the same organism count as two separate
taxa. Each taxon in the Basic collection is worth 2 pts, for a
total of 110 pts. Another 50 pts must be earned by collecting
additional taxa or by rearing adult specimens from immature stages.
Each additional taxon is worth 2 pts. Each reared specimen with
its associated cast skin is worth 1 pt. (Limit: 30 specimens total
and 5 specimens in the same taxon). The remaining 40 points is
awarded for technique and effort.
Specific criteria are:
Neatness, organization, diversity, attempted rearing, collecting
unusual specimens, collecting in obscure locations, collecting
adult males, independent identification, and collecting long series
of each taxon. You many turn in up to three vials of the same
taxon collected at different locations. This is still worth only
2 pts, but in the event you identify some specimens incorrectly,
they will count less of your score. The maximum possible score is
200 pts.
Field Notebook
One of the reasons for requiring you to make a collection is for
you to observe the respective habits of different aquatic insects.
For this reason you are also required to keep a Field Notebook that
describes the habitat where you collected each aquatic specimen
(excludes terrestrial stages). Standard sheets are provided for
you to describe as completely as possible the general habitat and
specific microhabitat of each organism. Each vial must be
referenced to a field data sheet by means of the Collection Number.
The Collection Number consists of the following: initials of
collector and last two numbers of year - number of general habitat
- number of microhabitat (Example: JDB79-1-3). The general habitat
only needs to be described once. Use pencil for the field data
sheets and fill them out in the field. Do not recopy them.
Accuracy, completeness, and organization are more important than
neatness here. A clip board is recommended to write on in the
field. Arrange the field data sheets chronologically in a notebook
or binder to turn them in. You will not receive any credit for
aquatic stages that cannot be easily referenced to a field data
sheet.
Organization
You must use the vials available from the bookstore (or equivalent)
and organize the vials in the styrofoam trays available from the
bookstore (or equivalent). You must use the labels provided by the
Entomology Department. There should be two labels in each vial:
Locality + Ecology label - put Collection Number in upper right
corner
HAB ecological information (ditch, Swift's Pond, Poudre
River, Buckhorn Creek,etc.)
LOC complete locality information (Rt.15, Poudre Park,
CSU campus, J. Bugg farm, etc.)
CO write complete county name
ST abbreviate state name
DATE abbreviate month (3 Apr. 1988)
COLL only put 1 name (J. Bugg)
Identification label - self-explanatory
A 00 drawing pen is required to fill out the labels. Use only
India ink, not drawing ink. It is best to let the labels dry
overnight before placing in alcohol. Do not let them get mixed up
during the drying period.
You must fill out a Collection Grading List on the sheets provided.
These sheets should be self-explanatory. Each vial goes on a
separate line. You are not graded on the neatness of these sheets.
Use ditto marks, abbreviations, and Collection Numbers wherever
possible. The only requirement is that you organize the sheets in
the same order as you turn in your specimens.
Your collections will be returned to you. I reserve the right to
remove a few rare specimens for the C. P. Gillette Museum of
Arthropod Diversity.
Honor System
Information in the Field Notebook must have been recorded during or
immediately after each respective collecting trip. All material
must have been collected in the field by one of the students
turning in the collection; there will be no exchanges or raiding
previous collections of others. If several students actively
participate in a collecting trip the catch may be divided up.