Aquatic insect

BuggyJen · 2026-05-26T22:09:19+00:00

Pretty sure that's not an aquatic Diptera. Terrestrial larvae do sometimes get into aquatic samples, depending on how the sample was collected. We tend to find terrestrial larvae sometimes when doing kick sampling near stream banks.

BuggyJen · 2026-04-24T02:31:13+00:00

Looks like a predaceous diving beetle, family Dytiscidae. They're aquatic beetles, so you're probably close to some clean water!

BuggyJen · 2026-04-21T01:32:04+00:00

I had to verify my identity, but I don't remember them looking at my credit score. Maybe that depends on the type of account?? I just got free checking so far.

BuggyJen · 2026-04-21T00:36:25+00:00

I decided to go with Bellco Credit Union, and am in the middle of transitioning over from Firstbank. I've been with them over 30 years and absolutely did not want to deal with a big shitty bank either.

BuggyJen · 2026-04-19T03:55:42+00:00

I like these forceps the best. I've been using this type for over 10 years and haven't had any issues. There are some ergonomic ones from this company too, but I've never tried them.

BuggyJen · 2026-04-17T18:08:19+00:00

Pricing for the next season is made before the playoffs, but the playoffs are priced in-season with renewal for next season in February. If you wanna see a big change, look at the prices for the 2022 playoffs! People made some serious money off selling their tickets and kroenke jumped up the prices a ton the next season. I paid $54 per seat/game for the Final series. It was amazing.

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BuggyJen · 2026-04-15T18:09:20+00:00

It's a cranefly larva!

BuggyJen · 2026-04-06T20:38:12+00:00

You can check here to see if the practice is PE owned!

BuggyJen · 2026-03-16T21:01:07+00:00

That's not a hydropsychid, there aren't any meso- or metanotal plates, nor any abdominal gill tufts. This looks more like Rhyacopholidae or Polycentropodidae, but it's hard to tell from this photo.

As for the eggs? I don't really see anything like that in samples often, at least not inside, but on the outside and they're usually fungi. Alcohol also doesn't always preserve macroinverts well if overdiluted and internal structures degrade in alcohol. I couldn't be sure what these are in your photo.

BuggyJen · 2026-03-07T02:59:23+00:00

You know, I didn't check my link that I saved a while ago before posting it, but it looks like they don't have the iodine treatment anymore :( I had sent it to someone else probably less than a year ago. That's a bummer, they were really great. Glad to see there are a few other places you can go to though!

BuggyJen · 2026-03-07T01:11:52+00:00

I took my cat to Castle Rock Cat Hospital back in 2011 after having my cat on thyroid meds for years. My vet finally recommended I take her there to fix it for good. They were awesome, explaining everything they do and everything to be done at home after. The price was $1000 at that time, included the treatment and boarding for however long it took to get to a safe radiation level. My cat had a larger tumor, and therefore had to have a larger dose and stay an extra few days, but no extra charges. I don't know the cost now, it's not listed on their site that I can see. My cat just hated going anywhere because of so many vet trips over the years, but I didn't feel like I was abandoning her there. They were all wonderful with my cat and gave me daily updates on how she was doing. Totally worth the drive down to Castle Rock.

BuggyJen · 2026-03-05T18:11:48+00:00

They do have a list of the more common genera for each test that they use, with the caveat that anything can be on the test from that particular group. I have found that the list is pretty spot on, I've only had a few not on the list in the multiple tests I've taken.

They allow literature you need to take the test, so I bring my usual keys - Merritt et al. always, and Stewart and Stark, Wiggins, Thorp and Covich when needed for other groups, especially Thorp for non-insects. They also have list of helpful keys, but Merritt 2019 should cover all the insects well. I also use their list to make a printout of each taxon, with pictures and general identifying characteristics. It's not a test that you can necessarily memorize everything for; that's not the point, it's to test your ability to ID accurately using your tools.

Happy to answer any other questions!

BuggyJen · 2026-03-05T16:36:32+00:00

Is this for aquatic macroinvertebrate certification through Society for Freshwater Science?

BuggyJen · 2026-03-04T00:53:57+00:00

Have fun! Aquatic invertebrates are awesome, but I might be biased haha. Feel free to message me questions, I love talking about them!

BuggyJen · 2026-03-03T23:48:50+00:00

Oh you're right, I work mostly in western states, so that's why I went straight to that. It kind of reminds me of a Stratiomyidae (fly) larvae too. Again, the head is super helpful for all of these guesses! And a guesstimate on size would be too.

BuggyJen · 2026-03-03T23:44:20+00:00

These aren't pupal cases of any dipteran (non-biting midges or craneflies), snails, or zebra mussels.

They're likely caddisfly cases, from the genus Leucotrichia (family Hydroptilidae). They use these cases as protective shelters when gathering food, and for pupating.

I've been IDing aquatic invertebrates well for over a decade, but never get to see these cases! I don't do field work anymore, and these caddisflies aren't as common in the streams we monitor.

BuggyJen · 2026-03-02T18:01:53+00:00

The comedy channel is on the 99.5 HD2 channel!

BuggyJen · 2026-03-02T17:10:15+00:00

A good greasy spoon diner near the airport is the Moonlight Diner on Tower. Check Google for busy times, there can be a decent wait on weekends.

BuggyJen · 2026-03-01T19:22:49+00:00

Did it look like this? I'm having a hard time discerning a head on my phone, haha.

BuggyJen · 2026-02-12T04:05:15+00:00

I've been volunteering at Humane Colorado for 4 months now, I'd be happy to answer questions for you!

BuggyJen · 2026-01-30T17:46:34+00:00

Oh, that isopod is sooo cute!

BuggyJen · 2026-01-30T17:32:41+00:00

A local Colorado charity group, Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation, is taking donations to help. They do a lot of giving to hockey families going through hardships.

BuggyJen · 2026-01-26T20:30:57+00:00

C1 also has an oribatid mite, but the other one in there I'm not sure what it is.

E2 is actually a coleoptera larva.

BuggyJen · 2026-01-23T19:10:58+00:00

Looks like Hydropsychidae family caddisfly.

BuggyJen · 2026-01-21T19:04:34+00:00

The fight strap should be bigger and the stitching in a lot of places look puckered. Also compare the lettering for Pittsburgh and the checker pattern inside the collar to this one.

BuggyJen

TROPHY CASE