» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Common Name
This is page 12 of specimens of Arthropoda. Visit the main Arthropoda page for:
- The behavior and habitat of Arthropoda.
- 122 underwater pictures of Arthropoda.
Pictures of 1244 Arthropod Specimens:
Maccaffertium ithaca (Light Cahill) Mayfly Dun
View 9 PicturesThis dun emerged from a nymph in one of the bowls on my table while I was sorting. I photographed it with the nymphal shuck (Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.), and it seems to be of the same species as a nymph I photographed from the same sample. Agnetina capitata (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult
View 8 PicturesThis stonefly emerged in my aquarium, and unfortunately I severely damaged its wings just trying to catch it. It's still an interesting specimen, especially since I was able to also photograph the nymphal shuck (Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.) it emerged from. I was surprised by just how light it was shortly after emerging. I photographed it a couple days later when it had darkened considerably; it was a pale, almost pastel yellow at first. Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedges) Caddisfly Pupa
View 8 PicturesSeveral users have interesting comments in the discussion of this specimen, but this observation by Creno is especially good:
Also, this is what I would call an "immature" pupa. The wingpads of caddis pupae darken to nearly black as the enclosed adults near emerging. The darkening is the developing adult wing inside the pupal wing pad (
The wing pads on this final instar
Baetidae mayfly nymph are extremely dark.
Wing pad: A protrusion from the thorax of an insect nymph which holds the developing wings. Black wing pads usually indicate that the nymph is nearly ready to emerge into an adult.). The ultimate coloration of the adult wing is not very apparent in most pupal wing pads (
The wing pads on this final instar
Baetidae mayfly nymph are extremely dark.
Wing pad: A protrusion from the thorax of an insect nymph which holds the developing wings. Black wing pads usually indicate that the nymph is nearly ready to emerge into an adult.) as the majority of the adult wing coloration comes from the color/position of the adult wing hairs and setae (Seta: Little hairs on insects.). But dark pupal wingpads are a good indication that the emergence will occur very soon, likely that day or so, and that the adult parts are sufficiently developed within the pupae to make a species determination from the specimen, particularly if it is a male.