order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Baetiscidae
“Armored Mayflies”
Family Overview
Baetiscidae
Armored Mayflies
Armored mayflies have a hard, shield-like plate (notum) covering the thorax and part of the abdomen which offers protection from predators. Typically, the notum covers the gills as far back as the sixth abdominal segment and has two prominent points. Caudal filaments are short and fringed with hairs. Members of this burrowing family are considered collector-gatherers and inhabit pools or runs in sandy streams. Baetiscids swim by tucking their legs under their body and undulating their abdomen and tails.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Mid-Atlantic: up to 4
Upper Midwest: up to 5
Southeast: up to 1.4
FEEDING HABITS
Collector / Gatherer
Scraper / Grazer
Scraper / Grazer
MOVEMENT
Clinger
Sprawler
Sprawler
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Abdominal Gills
Single Tarsal Claw
Usually 3 Tails
Family
Shield-like Pronotum
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Wings developing in wing pads. Mouthparts suitable for chewing. Gills present on tops and sides of abdomen. Segmented legs present. One tarsal claw per leg. Usually with 3 tails (sometimes 2).
Family:
Short, broad mayfly; the top of the pronotum forms a shield over the rest of the thorax and the basal segments of the abdomen; this shield often has a prominent pair of lateral spines.
Dorsal