order
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Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
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Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
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Diptera
“True Flies”
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Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
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Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
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Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
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Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
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Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
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Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
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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
0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
FEEDING HABITS
Engulfer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Burrower
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
order
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Abdomen with 5 Sharp Stiff Points or 3 Gills
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Labial Mask
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Two Pairs of Wing Pads
family
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5 Short Appendages on End of Abdomen
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Dorsal Premental Setae
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Margins of Labial Palps Toothed
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Palpal Setae
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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
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Dorsal
Ventral