“Water Pennies”
Family Overview
Psephenidae
Water Pennies
In North America North of Mexico this family includes 6 genera and about 16 species. Adults and pupae of this family are terrestrial, except for females enter the water to lay eggs. The larvae, however are fully aquatic. Called "Water Pennies" because of their distinctive appreace— the flat, shield-shaped larvae only has legs only visible from the ventral side. They are almost always found stuck (suction cup-like) to the sides and tops of rocks, where they feed by scraping periphyton and other food off of the substrate.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Mid-Atlantic: 5 and higher
Upper Midwest: 4 - 5
Midwest: 3.5 - 4
Southeast: 2.5 - 4.3
0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
FEEDING HABITS
Scraper / Grazer
MOVEMENT
Clinger
Diagnostic Characters
Media
Psephenidae
Water Penny Behavior
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