NY.gov Portal State Agency Listing Search all of NY.gov
D E C banner
D E C banner

Freshwater Macroinvertebrates of NY

Click on the group name in the table below to read about aquatic and semi-aquatic invertebrates that can be found in NY. Information about aquatic insects not found in stream riffles in New York State may not be discussed.

Organisms from these groups can be collected with a kick net from riffle areas in freshwater streams that have substrates consisting of rocks, gravel and sand.

Aquatic and semi-aquatic invertebrates found in New York waters
Name of Group Representative Picture of Group
Flatworms, Planaria (Platyhelminthes) image of a flatworm
Mussel, Clams (Mollusca) image of a clam
Worms (Oligochaeta) image of a worm
Leeches (Hirudinea) image of a leech
Scuds (Amphipoda) image of a scud
Crayfish (Decapoda) image of a crayfish
Sowbugs (Isopoda) image of a sowbug
Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) image of a mayfly
Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) image of a Dragonfly
Stoneflies (Plecoptera) image of a stonefly
True Bugs (Hemiptera) image of a true bug
Dobsonflies and Alderflies (Megaloptera) image of a Megaloptera
Water Beetles (Coleoptera) image of a water beetle
Caddisflies (Trichoptera) image of a caddisfly
True Flies (Diptera) image of a truefly

References:

Peckarsky, B.L., P.R. Fraissinet, M.A. Penton, and D.J. Conklin, Jr. 1990. Freshwater Macroinvertebrates of Northeastern North America. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, New York.

Voshell, J.R. 2002. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company: Blacksburg, Virginia.

Merritt, R.W., K.W. Cummins, and M.B. Berg, eds. 2008. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. 4th Edition. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co: Dubuque, Iowa.