Purdue Extension
4-H-1019
Bioindicators of Water Quality
Quick–Reference Guide
Authors: Julie Speelman and Natalie Carroll | Photographer (unless otherwise noted): Julie Speelman | Design and Layout: Jennifer Mazonas
This publication shows aquatic insects that can be used as
Biotic Water Quality Degree of Organic
bioindicators of water quality in Indiana waterways. Bioindicators are
biological systems that are sensitive to environmental changes and, Index Rating Pollution
therefore, can indicate when pollution is present in the water. organic pollution
0.00–3.75 excellent unlikely
A tolerance score is included for each insect in this publication. The
slight organic
tolerance score, ranging from 0–10, represents the insect’s sensitivity 3.76–4.25 very good
to pollution and can be used to estimate the quality of the water in pollution possible
which the insect was found. Insects with a score of 0 are intolerant some organic
to pollution, meaning they cannot tolerate any water pollution, while 4.26–5.00 good pollution probable
insects with a score of 10 are very tolerant of polluted water.
fairly substantial
5.01–5.75 fair pollution likely
Materials Needed
• dip net substantial
• white plastic pail, bowl, or dishpan (Note: The white color makes it easier 5.76–6.50 fairly poor
pollution likely
to see the insects.)
• 2–3 white styrofoam egg cartons or plastic ice cube trays 6.51–7.25 poor very substantial
• data sheet—available online at: www.four-h.purdue.edu/natural_ pollution likely
resources/ (select “Resources for Educators” and “Bioindicators”)
severe organic
7.26–10.0 very poor pollution likely
Instructions
• Locate a body of water (e.g., stream, pond, lake) to sample. The
water should only be at most knee deep and allow easy access for Assessing the Water Quality of a Site
obtaining the sample. Make sure you have permission to sample the
For each insect family group:
water.
• Record the number of insects found for each species listed.
• Dip the pail in the water to be sampled.
• Multiply the Tolerance Value by the Number Found, and enter the
• Collect insect samples from all habitats within a 200-foot section
result under Family Tolerance Score.
of that body of water, and place them in the pail. Jab your dip
• Sum the Number Found and Family Tolerance Score columns (Order
net against the vegetation and into mud or sand at the bottom to
Totals).
collect insects. Scrape the underside of rocks and logs into the net.
• Collect insects for 45 minutes. For each insect order:
• Using the ice cube tray, sort the insects that look the same into the • Transfer the Order Totals to the Order Summary section.
different compartments of the tray using your hand or forceps. Be • Sum the Number Found and Order Tolerance Score columns
sure to put some water in the ice cube tray first to keep the insects (Grand Total).
from drying out. • Determine the Biotic Index by dividing the Grand Total Tolerance
• Use the bioindicator flash cards or quick reference guide to identify Score by the Grand Total Number Found.
the insects. Record the number of insects from each insect family you • Use the biotic index in the table provided to estimate the water
identify on the data sheet. quality rating and degree of organic pollution.
• Place the insects back in the water when you are finished.
• Complete the calculations described in the next section to determine
the quality rating.
Resources • Hoosier Riverwatch (provides training on this and many other water-
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related topics): http://www.in.gov/dnr/nrec/3046.htm
• About Biological Integrity and Indicators: • Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training Manual (download, 13.7 MB):
www.epa.gov/bioindicators/html/about.html http://www.in.gov/dnr/nrec/files/nc-Riverwatch_Manual.pdf; Chapter 5
• Invertebrates as Indicators (look for Bugs as Indicators of Water Quality): covers biological monitoring.
www.epa.gov/bioindicators/html/invertebrate.html • Hoosier Riverwatch events calendar: http://www.in.gov/dnr/nrec/
• Bugguide.net (hosted by Iowa State University Entomology):
www.bugguide.net
Coleoptera
Beetles
6 pale forms
8 red forms
4 4
Gyrinidae (larvae) Psephenidae (larvae) Chironomidae
5 Whirligig Beetle Water Penny Non-biting Midge
Dryopidae
Long-toed Water Beetle Diptera
Flies
4 2 8
Gyrinidae (adult) Culicidae
5 Whirligig Beetle Mosquito
Dytiscidae (larvae)
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Athericidae
Aquatic Snipe Fly
7 0 1
Haliplidae (larvae) Dixidae
5
Dixid Midge
Crawling Water Beetle
Dytiscidae (adult)
Predaceous Diving Beetle
6
Blephariceridae
Net-winged Midge
7 Empididae
Haliplidae (adult)
5 Crawling Water Beetle
Aquatic Dance Fly
Elmidae (larvae)
Riffle Beetle 6
Ceratopogonidae
Biting Midge
5 8 6
Ephydridae
5
Hydrophilidae (larvae) Shore Fly
Water Scavenger Beetle
Elmidae (adult)
Riffle Beetle
6
Chaoboridae
Phantom Midge
5 Muscidae
Hydrophilidae (adult) House Fly, Stable Fly,
Water Scavenger Beetle Green Bottle Fly
3 4
10 4
Psychodidae Tipulidae Ephemeridae Potamanthidae
Moth Fly Crane Fly Common Burrowing Mayfly Hacklegill Mayfly
Ephemeroptera 4 7
Mayflies
6
Sciomyzidae Heptageniidae Siphlonuridae
Marsh Fly Flat-headed Mayfly Primitive Minnow Mayfly
4 Hemiptera
Baetidae
Small Minnow Mayfly Aquatic Bugs
6 2 10
Simuliidae Isonychiidae
Black Fly Brushed-legged Mayfly
3
Baetiscidae Belostomatidae
Armored Mayfly
Giant Water Bug
8 7 4
Stratiomyidae Leptohyphidae
Soldier Fly Little Stout Crawler Mayfly
Caenidae
9
Corixidae
Small Square-gill Mayfly
Water Boatman
10 1 2
Syrphidae Leptophlebiidae
Rattailed Maggot Prong-gilled Mayfly
Undetermined
Ephemerellidae Gelastocoridae
Spiny Crawler Mayfly
Toad Bug
6 2
Tabanidae Polymitarcyidae
Horse Fly, Deer Fly Pale Burrowing Mayfly
Undetermined Megaloptera
Alderflies,
Dobsonflies,
Undetermined and Fishflies
0
Gerridae Notonectidae
Water Strider Backswimmer
Photo: Dr. Jonathan Neal
Undetermined
Corydalidae
Undetermined Dobsonfly
Hebridae Pleidae
Velvet Water Bug Pygmy Backswimmer
Undetermined
Photo: Dr. Jonathan Neal
4 9
Sialidae
Undetermined Alderfly Coenagrionidae
Narrow-winged Damselfly
Hydrometridae Saldidae
Water Measurer Shore Bug
Odonata
Undetermined
6 Damselflies and
Dragonflies
1
Gomphidae
Veliidae Club-tailed Dragonfly
Mesoveliidae
Water Treader Broad-shouldered Water Strider
Lepidoptera
3
Aeshnidae
Aquatic Moths
9
Darner
5 Lestidae
Spread-winged Damselfly
Naucoridae
Creeping Water Bug
8 5 5
Calopterygidae
Photo: Dr. Jonathan Neal
Pyralidae
Aquatic Caterpillar Broad-winged Damselfly
7
Libellulidae
Nepidae Common Skimmer
Water Scorpion
Trichoptera
Plecoptera
Caddisflies
4
Stoneflies
4
Hydropsychidae Limnephilidae
Common Net Spinner Caddisfly Northern Casemaker Caddisfly
1 1
Capniidae Brachycentridae
Small Winter Stonefly Humpless Casemaker Caddisfly
0 4 3
Hydroptilidae Philopotamidae
Micro Caddisfly Finger Net Caddisfly
0 4
Leuctridae Glossosomatidae
Roll-winged Stonefly Saddle Casemaker Caddisfly
2 1
Lepidostomatidae Phryganeidae
3
Lepidostomatid Casemaker Giant Casemaker Caddisfly
Nemouridae Helicopsychidae
Brown Stonefly Snail Casemaker Caddisfly
4
Leptoceridae
Long Horned Casemaker
1
Perlidae
Common Stonefly
0
Pteronarcyidae
Giant Stonefly
2
Perlodidae
Patterned Stonefly
2
Taeniopterygidae
Winter Stonefly
Using this guide with the data sheets
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Tolerance Number Family Tolerance
Coleoptera Family
Value Found Score
Beetles Dryopidae 5 0 0
Dytiscidae 5 2 10
Elmidae 5 0 0
Gyrinidae 4 0 0
Haliplidae 7 0 0
5 Hydrophilidae
Psephenidae
5
4
3
0
15
0
Dryopidae 5
Long-toed Water Beetle Order Total 25
5
Dytiscidae (larvae)
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Order Summary
Order Total Number Found Order Tolerance
Coleoptera 5 25
Diptera 6 38
5 Ephemeroptera
Hemiptera
8
5
28
27
Dytiscidae (adult)
Predaceous Diving Beetle Lepidoptera 2 0
Megaloptera 0 0
Odonata 3 13
Tolerance Plecoptera 0 0
Common Value Trichoptera 6 24
Name Family Grand Total 35 155
Name Biotoic Index = [Grand Total Tolerance] / [Grand Total Number Found] = 155/35 = 4.43
Purdue Agriculture Produced by Agricultural Communication 08/12
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