STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Describe aspects of the biology of individual aquatic insects:

         A.      life cycles

         B.      habitat preferences

         C.      habits (modes of existence)

         D.      trophic relations

         E.      behavior

 II.     Demonstrate knowledge of the taxonomy of aquatic insects:

         A.      identify all aquatic insects to order on sight

         B.      identify common aquatic insects to family on sight

         C.      identify all aquatic insects to family, and some to genus, with taxonomic keys and microscope

 III.    Demonstrate current methods used in aquatic entomology:

         A.      collecting

         B.      preserving

 IV.     Describe some of the basic ecological interactions involving aquatic insects and how that information on aquatic insects can be applied and used.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Introduction and Organization

 II.     Identifying Aquatic Insects

 III.    Living in Water

 IV.     From Field to Laboratory

 V.      Arthropods and Other Common Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

 VI.     Key to the Orders and Stages of Aquatic Insects

 VII.    Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera)

 VIII.   Damselflies and Dragonflies (Order Odonata)

 IX.     Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera)

 X       Water Bugs (Order Hemiptera)

 XI.     Fishflies, Dobsonflies, and Alderflies (Order Megaloptera)

 XII.    Spongillaflies (Order Neuroptera, Family Sisyridae)

 XIII.   Water Beetles (Order Coleoptera)

 XIV.    Caddisfllies (Order Trichoptera)

 XV.     Aquatic Caterpillars (Order Lepidoptera)

 XVI.    Midges, Mosquitoes, Aquatic Gnats and Flies (Order Diptera)

 XVII.   Shore-Dwelling Insects

 XVIII.  Insects Associated with Emergent Vegetation

 XIX.    Tree Hole and Plant Cup Residents

 XX      Diving Wasps (Order Hymenoptera)

 XXI.    Freshwater Springtails (Order Collembola)

 XXII.   Common Freshwater Crustaceans

 XXIII.  Common Freshwater Arachnids