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Early, but productive
Mar 6, 2019 20:59:41   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
That was yesterday collecting at a freshwater stream.
Stone flies emerging, and some midges. The rest I got by dragging a net in the gravel.
Canon T2I with a 40mm lens and 39 mm tubes.
There were a lot of aquatic amphiopods, too. They die easily as water warms. They also dye the alcohol I put them in a steamed shrimp looking pink.
Grass collected went into an aquarium I keep set up. Never know what it can hide. We'll see.
Good night, all.
Bill

Case bearing Cadisfly. Those are sand grains cemented together
Case bearing Cadisfly. Those are sand grains cemen...
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(Download)

This is a Mayfly nymph. Note three cerci. If these were Stoneflies, there would only be two cerci.
This is a Mayfly nymph. Note three cerci. If these...
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Out of water
Out of water...
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Three Dytiscidae larva
Three Dytiscidae larva...
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At one to one.
At one to one....
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Mar 7, 2019 03:12:52   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
An aquarium set up is a good idea, I am going to copy that idea. Some years ago I collected some pond water in a shallow white tray and then transferred each tiny creature to a small container (china spoon) to photograph them. It was very interesting and educative, I must do that again.

Here is one of my old posts on the subject https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-226707-1.html

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Mar 7, 2019 14:06:31   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
Well done, Bill. These are new to me and I've not seen Mayflies at this stage before nor know the difference them and others so your post has been quite educational for me.

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Mar 7, 2019 14:26:23   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
EnglishBrenda wrote:
An aquarium set up is a good idea, I am going to copy that idea. Some years ago I collected some pond water in a shallow white tray and then transferred each tiny creature to a small container (china spoon) to photograph them. It was very interesting and educative, I must do that again.

Here is one of my old posts on the subject https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-226707-1.html


I looked back. An ocean away and yet familiar "friends in a drop of water."
Did you ever set up an aquarium?. I have had one for many years. I cycle native fauna thru, so always changing.
FYI of those here, get a 2.5 gal and a sponge filter and air pump. Fill to about three inches from top and keep screened. That set up needs a PINCH OF YARD SOIL. This provides the bacteria to kick start the biologic action of the sponge filter. Let sit a week before stocking. Experiment, you will find a Ballance. Collect plants and animals.
Creatures will feed at the filter (clean by squeezing under cold water, keeps cultures alive), be eaten by another , they in turn eaten. An eco system will develop.
I did this and a lot of insect zookeeping. I was the neighborhood 'oddball' with two young sons and the wierd pets, including a crow. Guess where the kids all hung out. Free babysitting.
Thanks for looking and listening, Brenda.
Bill

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Mar 7, 2019 15:51:57   #
tinusbum Loc: east texas
 
thats some you dont see every day,good job!

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Mar 7, 2019 18:11:47   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
newtoyou wrote:
I looked back. An ocean away and yet familiar "friends in a drop of water."
Did you ever set up an aquarium?. I have had one for many years. I cycle native fauna thru, so always changing.
FYI of those here, get a 2.5 gal and a sponge filter and air pump. Fill to about three inches from top and keep screened. That set up needs a PINCH OF YARD SOIL. This provides the bacteria to kick start the biologic action of the sponge filter. Let sit a week before stocking. Experiment, you will find a Ballance. Collect plants and animals.
Creatures will feed at the filter (clean by squeezing under cold water, keeps cultures alive), be eaten by another , they in turn eaten. An eco system will develop.
I did this and a lot of insect zookeeping. I was the neighborhood 'oddball' with two young sons and the wierd pets, including a crow. Guess where the kids all hung out. Free babysitting.
Thanks for looking and listening, Brenda.
Bill
I looked back. An ocean away and yet familiar &quo... (show quote)


No Bill, I didn't set up an aquarium but think I will do so using the information you have given so thanks for that.

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Mar 7, 2019 18:40:51   #
napabob Loc: Napa CA
 
cadisfly sure earned it's bricklaying badge............good series

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Mar 8, 2019 09:17:26   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
Very good! We should get more aquatics around here. Caddisfly cases are a marvel. Years ago when in Arizona I would find a lot of the ones that make a 'snail shell' out of sand grains. Those were amazing works of micro-masonry, as shown here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/900704
Those seem to occur in briskly flowing streams with rocky and sandy bottoms.

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Mar 8, 2019 12:07:52   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Very good! We should get more aquatics around here. Caddisfly cases are a marvel. Years ago when in Arizona I would find a lot of the ones that make a 'snail shell' out of sand grains. Those were amazing works of micro-masonry, as shown here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/900704
Those seem to occur in briskly flowing streams with rocky and sandy bottoms.


Maryland is rich with many small streams that fit the bill for aquatics.
Isolation has kept polution to a minimum in upper waters. Gravel bed underlying costal plain means gravel bottom and plenty of oxygen.
I monitored many for water quality in 80's for Smithsonian. I collected insects for me.
A stream survey for aquatics would make a good summer project.
A partial list might include:
Dragon and damsel flies. Mayflies, Fish flies, Dobson flies, Caddis flies, Stoneflies, midges and other. Beetles include Carabididae and Omophronidae, Ditiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Haliplidae, Gyrinidae, Dryopidae, and Elmidae.
True bugs are many, and snail's, clams, isopods, other arthropods such as Fishing spiders. AND mosquitoes, and biting flies.
And a final note. Caddisfly larva may include bits of gold, real or fools, in the case. I saw one from the upper Potomac River that had a number of flecks in it.
Bill

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