Paleoptera: Ephemeroptera and Odonata

Hexapoda Insecta Paleoptera Neoptera Polyneoptera Condyloptera Vericrustacea   Collembola: Springtails Protura: Coneheads Diplura: Two-pronged Bristletails Archaeognatha: Jumping Bristletails Zygentoma: Silverfish Hexapoda Insecta Blattodea: Roaches and Termites Plecoptera: Stoneflies   Notoptera: Gladiators Embioptera: Webspinners Phasmatodea: Stick Bugs Mantodea: Mantids Orthoptera: Grasshoppers Dermaptera: Earwigs Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies Paleoptera Neoptera Polyneoptera Diptera: Flies Mecoptera: Scorpionflies Siphonaptera: Fleas Lepidoptera: Butterflies and Moths Trichoptera: Caddisflies Coleoptera: Beetles Strepsiptera: Twisted-wing Parasites Neuroptera: Net-winged Insects Megaloptera: Dobsonflies Hymenoptera: Ants, Bees, Wasps Psocodea: Bark and Tree Lice Hemiptera: True Bugs Thysanoptera: Thrips Condyloptera Holometabola

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology - Most have two pairs of wings, with the hind wings greatly reduced in size in some groups (even absent). The wings are held upright; and the wings have many veins.

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology - The abdomen has 10 segments and is fairly long, with 2 caudal filaments (the cerci) or 3 (like larvae).

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology - The forelegs are often long, as well; particularly in the male where they can be as long as the body. In some families, pairs of legs may be vestigial.

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - aquatic larvae – feed on algae and detritus - larvae have leaf-like gills on abdominal segments

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - aquatic larvae – feed on algae and detritus - larvae have leaf-like gills on abdominal segments - larvae usually with three caudal appendages

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - aquatic larvae – feed on algae and detritus - larvae have leaf-like gills on abdominal segments - larvae usually with three caudal appendages - larvae may take 1-2 years to develop, usually longer at higher latitudes

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - molting occurs on surface of the water - subabult (subimago) flies to shoreline Subadult has hairs along wing margins

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - molting occurs on surface of the water - subabult (subimago) flies to shoreline - mayflies are UNIQUE in that they are the only insects to molt once as winged adults; this usually occurs the next day, and it lives as a reproductive adult for 1-2 days at most.

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - molting occurs on surface of the water - subabult (subimago) flies to shoreline - mayflies are UNIQUE in that they are the only insects to molt once as winged adults; this usually occurs the next day, and it lives as a reproductive adult for 1-2 days at most. - adults lack mouthparts and do not feed

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - males of many species form swarms; females enter and pairs fly off; mating in flight with oviposition shortly thereafter

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - males of many species form swarms; females enter and pairs fly off; mating in flight with oviposition shortly thereafter - swarms off the great lakes (Erie in particular were HUGE, but lake pollution has reduced their abundances) … bodies piled up to 1.2 m Illinois (1953) swarms

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - eggs laid on surface of water

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - Eaten by fish and terrestrial animals; important link in aquatic food chains

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - Eaten by fish and terrestrial animals; important link in aquatic food chains - sensitive to pollutants (soft bodies?) – many are indicator taxa of clean water (EPT score = abundance and diversity of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera)

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology C. Major Families

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology C. Major Families 1. Baetidae (135 species): adults small (front wings 2-12 mm and elongate-oval) hind wings very small or absent, and the only family with small hind wings and only 2 caudal filaments. Eyes turbinate

Baetidae

Key to mayfly larvae of WV

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology C. Major Families 1. Baetidae: 2. Ephemerellidae (90) Very important for anglers! Hatch on surface of the water, so lots of ‘flies’ mimic members of this family, including Olives and Drakes. No gills on first two segments

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology C. Major Families 1. Baetidae: 2. Ephemerellidae (90) 3. Heptageniidae (127): sprawling nymphs; flattened adults with 2 caudal filaments

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology C. Major Families 1. Baetidae: 2. Ephemerellidae 3. Heptageniidae 4. Leptophlebiidae (66): 3 caudal filaments Wing (4-14mm) have strongly bent Cu-P vein and no free veinlets Forked gills on larval abdomen

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology C. Major Families 1. Baetidae: 2. Ephemerellidae 3. Heptageniidae 4. Leptophlebiidae 5. Ephemeridae (13) medium to large (wings 10-25mm); larvae tusked

Hexagenia limbata 2006 hatch on radar The giant mayfly – 1.1 inches Most common mayfly in NA

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology All are fairly large and have 4 wings; in damselflies the wings are held over the back at rest, in dragonflies to the side.

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology Small antennae, large eyes

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology Prothorax small; thoracic segments tipped forward for grasping prey in flight

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology Abdomen long; male cerci short and modified to grasp females behind pronotum.

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - Larvae predaceous; have jointed, ‘elbowed’ mentum

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - Larvae predaceous; have jointed, ‘elbowed’ mentum - External Gills in Zygoptera (Damsels), Anal Gills in Anisoptera (dragons)

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - Larvae predaceous; have jointed, ‘elbowed’ mentum - External Gills in Zygoptera (Damsels), Anal Gills in Anisoptera (dragons) - may live as larvae for 1 year, 2 years, or 10 years depending on species and latitude.

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - Larvae emerge from water; adults emerge from larval skin video

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology - Larvae emerge from water; adults emerge from larval skin - “teneral” until wings harden

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology Males have two sets of sex organs – one at end make sperm, that is transferred to the penis at front of abdomen

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology males grasp females behind prothorax – “in tandem”

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology female reaches up and under, contacting her genitalia with penis of male – “in wheel”

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology female stores sperm in ‘spermatheca’ – last sperm in is used, so selection has favored mate guarding by males, who guard females until she lays her eggs; sometimes staying in tandem.

Paleoptera Ephemeroptera: Mayflies Odonata: Dragonflies A. Morphology B. Basic Biology C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies 1. Calopterygidae (8): Larvae with long antennae and long legs; Adults are largest damsels, and most have darkening in wing

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies 1. Calopterygidae 2. Lestidae (18): Spreadwings - Larvae with very narrow labium - adults with hanging wings

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies 1. Calopterygidae 2. Lestidae 3. Coenagrionidae (93): Pond Damsels All the Rest!

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies 1. Aeshnidae (38): Darners Large; eyes meet along dorsal seam; triangles same

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies 1. Aeshnidae 2. Cordulegastridae (8): Biddies - Eyes meet at one point; triangles same

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies 1. Aeshnidae 2. Cordulegastridae 3. Gomphidae (93): Clubtails - Eyes separate; triangles same

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies 1. Aeshnidae 2. Cordulegastridae 3. Gomphidae (93): Clubtails 4. Libellulidae (93): Skimmers Triangles different; : toe in hind wing anal loop

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies 1. Aeshnidae 2. Cordulegastridae 3. Gomphidae 4. Libellulidae 5. Corduliidae (50): Emeralds Triangles differ; leg but no toe

C. Classification Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies 1. Aeshnidae 2. Cordulegastridae 3. Gomphidae 4. Libellulidae 5. Corduliidae 6. Macromiidae (10): Cruisers Triangles differ; anal loop rounded – no leg