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
Cordulegastridae
genus
Cordulegaster
“Spiketails, Biddies”
Genus Overview
5 species in North America. Th larvae are stout, hairy and with an abdomen tapering at midpoint. Behind the eyes the margin of the head is rounded.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: 6.1
Upper Midwest: 3
Mid-Atlantic: 3
FEEDING HABITS
Engulfer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Burrower
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Abdomen with 5 Sharp Stiff Points or 3 Gills
Labial Mask
Two Pairs of Wing Pads
Family
5 Short Appendages on End of Abdomen
Dorsal Premental Setae
Margins of Labial Palps Toothed
Palpal Setae
Prementum and Palps Spoon-like
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Nymph with mask-like labium below chewing mouthparts. Wings developing in wing pads. Segmented legs present, each with two claws.
Family:
The stout larva is without conspicuous terminal gills; the palpal lobes (apical projections at the end of the large, retractile labial prementum—“lower lip”) are triangular, much broader apically than basally and with large, irregular teeth.
Genus:
Antennae 7 segmented, Labial palps with irregularly spaced teeth, prementum sppon-shaped
Dorsal
Ventral