Aquatic invertebrates
by Alison Pouliot
Invertebrates are animals without backbones or a bony skeleton. Due to their small size and cryptic habits they are often overlooked, despite the fact that they represent over 95% of the world’s species. Aquatic invertebrates play an important role in the processes and functioning of freshwater ecosystems and many are recognised as important environmental indicators.
Stonefly nymph (Photo by Alison Pouliot)
The species below were surveyed from various waterways within the Wombat Forest including the upper reaches of the Werribee, Lerderderg, Moorabool, Loddon and Coliban Rivers including some unnamed tributaries; Nolans, Kangaroo, Wallaby, Leitches, Cockatoo and Coopers Creeks; Charlesford Dam; Wombat and Bullarto Reservoirs, Lakes Jubilee and Daylesford between 2009-2011.
Plecoptera (stoneflies)
Austroperlidae
- Acruroperla atra
Gripopterygidae
- Dinotoperla fontana
- Dinotoperla hirsuta
- Leptoperla primitive
- Leptoperla sp.
- Riekoperla rugosa group
Notonemouridae
- Austrocerca sp.
Ephemeroptera (mayflies)
Baetidae
- Baetis sp. (early instar)
- Baetis frater
- Centroptilum sp.
- Cloeon sp.
Caenidae
- Tasmanocoenis tillyardi
Leptophlebiidae
Mayfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)
- Atalophlebia albiterminata
- Atalophlebia australis
- Atalophlebiodes sp.
- Atalophlebia sp.
- Atalonella sp.
- Austrophlebioides marchanti
- Nousia sp.
- Ulmerophlebia sp.
Oligoneuriidae
- Coloburiscoides sp.
Oniscigastridae
- Tasmanophlebia sp.
Siphlonuridae
- Ameletoides lacusalbinae
Trichoptera (caddisflies)
Caddisfly cases (Photo by Alison Pouliot)
Calocidae
- Tamasia variegate
Ecnomidae
- Ecnomina sp.
- Ecnomus pansus
Glossosomatidae
- Agapetus sp.
Helicophidae
- Alloecella grisea
Helicopsychidae
Caddisfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)
- Helicopsyche spp.
Hydrobiosidae
- Apsilochorema obliquum
- Ethochorema spp.
- Taschorema evansi
- Ulmerochorema rubiconum group
Hydropsychidae
- Cheumatopsyche spp.
Hydroptilidae
- Hellyethira simplex
- Hellyethira sp.
Leptoceridae
- Lectrides varians
- Notalina sp.
- Notalina fulva
- Notalina spira
- Triplectides australicus group
- Triplectides spp.
Philopotamidae
- Hydrobiosella sp.
- Chimarra sp.
Philoreithridae
- Aphilorheithrus sp.
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
Damselfly exuvia (Photo by Alison Pouliot)
Aeshnidae
- Aeshna sp.
- Aeshna brevistyla
- Hemianax papuensis
Austropetaliidae
- Austropetalia patricia
Coenagrionidae
- Ischnura sp.
- Austrocnemis sp.
- Ischnura aurora
- Ischnura heterosticta
Gomphidae
- Austrogompus sp.
Hemicordulidae
- Hemicordulia sp.
- Hemicordulia tau
Lestidae
- Lestes sp.
Isostictidae
- Austrosticta sp.
Cordulephyidae
Damselfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)
- Cordulephya pygmaea
Austrocordulidae
- Austrocordulia sp.
Coleoptera
Dytiscidae
- Antiporus sp.
- Copelatus sp.
- Hydroglyphus sp.
- Laccophilus sp.
- Platynectes sp.
- Sternopriscus sp.
Sideswimmer (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)
Elmidae (riffle beetles)
- Austrolimnius sp.
- Notriolus sp.
- Notriolus maculatus
- Simsonia sp.
- Simsonia tasmanica
Haliplidae
- Haliplus sp.
Hydrophilidae
- Laccobius sp.
- Helochares sp.
- Berosus sp.
Gyrinidae (whirligig beetles)
- Macrogyrus sp.
Psephenidae
- Sclerocyphon maculates
- Sclerocyphon striatus
- Sclerocyphon sp.
Scirtidae
- Pseudomicrocara sp.
Hemiptera (true bugs)
Dragonfly metamorphosing (Photo by Alison Pouliot)
Corixidae (water boatmen)
- Micronecta sp.
- Micronecta robusta
- Sigara sp.
Notonectidae
- Notonecta sp.
- Anisops sp.
Gerridae (water striders)
- Austrobates sp.
Naucoridae
- Naucoris sp.
Veliidae
- Microvelia sp.
Mesoveliidae
- Mesovelia spp.
Pleidae
- Paraplea brunni
Hydrometridae
- Hydrometra strigosa
- Hydrometra sp.
Belostomatidae
- Diplonychus sp.
Diptera (true flies)
Chironomidae (midge larvae)
- Cryptochironornus griseidorsum
- Rheotanytarsus sp.
- Riethia sp.
- Crictopus spp.
- Podonomopsis sp.
- Stenochironomus sp.
- Procladius spp.
- Thiememanniella sp.
Tipulidae (crane fly larvae)
- Tipulidae spp.
Simuliidae (blackfly larvae)
- Austrosimulium torrentium
- Austrosimulium spp.
- Simulium spp.
Lepidoptera (aquatic caterpillars)
- Crambidae (formerly Pyralidae)
- Nymphulinae sp.
Hydracarina (water mites)
- Hydracarina sp.
Bivalvia (mussels)
- Unionida sp.
Oligochaeta (aquatic worms)
Freshwater mussels (Photo by Alison Pouliot)
- Nais spp.
Platyhelminthes (flatworms)
- Temnocephalidea sp.
- Tricladida sp.
Gastropoda
- Hygrophilia sp.
Lymnaeidae
- Austropeplea tomentosa
Ancylidae
- Ferrissia sp.
Freshwater shrimp (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)
Hirudinea (leeches)
- Hirudinea spp.
Crustacea
Decapoda (yabbies)
Parastacidae
- Cherax sp.
- Amphipoda spp. (amphipods)
- Ostracoda spp. (seed shrimps)
- Copepoda spp. (copepods)
- Anostraca spp. (fairy shrimps)