Wading for Bugs
Wading for Bugs
Exploring Streams with the Experts
In Wading for Bugs, nearly two dozen aquatic biologistsshare their memorable encounters with stream insects. The contributors,based primarily in North America, work in diverse environments –from arctic to desert, from mountain streams to river valleys. Theyrepresent a wide range of expertise as authors of standard field texts,leaders in biomonitoring and assessment programs, directors of majorlaboratories, and specialists in aquatic ecology and taxonomy.
The writings in Wading for Bugs allow readers to experience– through the eyes of the scientists – what it’s liketo study stream insects and to make discoveries that could help developbiological indicators for stream health. General summaries introduceeach insect order. Elegant insect drawings accompany each story, alongwith morphological, life history, and habitat information for eachspecies or family.
Wading for Bugs will appeal to general readers as well asstudents, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts curious about streamsand the insects that live in them.I think it’s a wonderful idea to have experts talk personally about their work rather than be confined to academic descriptions. In my opinion, the intent of this book is fun and original—particularly so since the topic of aquatic invertebrates is relatively unexplored and uncelebrated.
Introduction xii / Judith Li and Michael Barbour
I Mayflies in the Mist
About Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) 1
1 The Ghost Mayfly 4 / John Woodling
2 Emergence of a Mayfly: Nuisance or Blessing? 11 / Michael T.Barbour
3 Mayflies and Fly Fishing at the Forks of the Credit 15 / LyndaD. Corkum
II Stonefly Recoveries
About Stoneflies (Plecoptera) 22
4 A Cosmic Stonefly: Rediscovering Tallaperla 25 / DavePenrose
5 Returning Salmonflies to the Logan River 29 / MarkVinson
III Sleuthing for Caddis
About Caddisflies (Trichoptera) 34
6 A Case that Glitters 37 / Vincent Resh
7 Life in a Cornucopia 42 / John Richardson
8 Mystery of the Spine-Adorned Caddisfly 48 / MarilynMyers
9 Dicos for Ducks 52 / Judith Li
10 Digging in a Ditch for Caddis 57 / Norman H.Anderson
11 A Criminal “Case” Made with Caddisflies 61 / JohnR. Wallace and Richard W. Merritt
IV Truly Flies
About True Flies (Diptera) 65
12 Encounter with Arctic Black Flies 68 / DonnaGiberson
13 Hanging on in the Alpine Tundra 71 / Deb Finn
14 Making the Case for an Aquatic Insect and Its Habitat 79 /Richard W. Merritt
15 Way Cool Mountain Midges 83 / Gregory W. Courtney
16 Marine Sea Stars, Nudibranchs, and Midges 89 / DavidWartinbee
17 The Phantom Midges of Silver Lake 94 / Michael C.Swift
V Dragonfly Detectives
About Dragonflies (Odonata) 100
18 Hanging from a Leaf 103 / Rob Cannings
19 Tracking the River Cruiser 108 / Christopher Beatty
VI Bugs and Beetles on Their Best Behavior
About Beetles (Coleoptera) 112
About True Bugs (Heteroptera) 114
20 In Defense of Whirligig Beetles 117 / Fred Benfield
21 The Bugs Famously Known as Ferocious Water Bugs, Giant WaterBugs, and Toe Biters 123 / David A. Lytle
22 Riding the Current for the Riverine Backswimmer 127 / MichaelBogan
23 Secrets of an Infrequent Flyer 132 / Mark P. Miller
Anatomy of a Mayfly 137
Biological Assessment: Using Biological Indicators to Evaluate theHealth of a Waterbody 138
Glossary 142
Useful References 145
About the Contributors 147
Index 155