Benthic macroinvertebrates are animals without a backbone that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and that live on the bottom of streams, lakes, and rivers. They 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 found in streams. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are an essential link in the food web between producers, such as leaves and algae, and higher consumers, such as fish. They are one of the most commonly used living water quality indicators because:
They are common in most streams or rivers.
They are fairly easy to sample and identify.
They are sensitive to pollution and changes in their habitats.
They have a relatively long life cycle and serve as water quality indicators over time.
Visit the Stroud Center’s Leaf Pack Network® website to learn about a simple experiment that uses tree leaves and aquatic insects to determine the health of your local stream.
Check out the macroinvertebrate bandana in English and Spanish in our shop!
