The following pages are a digital key meant to
help you identify macroinvertebrates found in the streams of South East Ohio.
Follow the key to identify the macroinvertebrates to the Order level.
The digital key mostly consists of pairs of opposite choices. To use this key,
start by clicking on the START KEY link below
and read the choices. Decide what best describes the organism and click on your
choice. This will take you to the next pair of images or list of possible taxa
with descriptive statements. Repeat the procedure until the macroinvertebrate is
identified to the Order level. If you want additional information on a particular
taxon, go to the List of Orders in the menu list.
If you reach
a point in the selection where neither of the statements apply, you can
reconsider the choices and either work your way back through the preceding pairs
of statements or start all over again by clicking on the link at the end of the
page - Return to Beginning of Key.
Some macroinvertebrates such as caddisfly larva will be found in a protective
case made of sticks, pebbles, sand or leaf fragments. It might be necessary to
remove these cases in order to make an identification. In order to view certain
characteristics of the specimens, a microscope or hand held lens might be
required.
Clicking on the images will give you a larger image of the macroinvertebrates.
To access the key click below
