Insects and Water Quality

Insects are ubiquitous.  They inhabit nearly every habitat on the planet including freshwater lakes and streams.  Having clean freshwater is not only important for human consumption but for the general health of aquatic ecosystems.  Many insect species can be indicators of clean water as their larvae develop over extended time periods in freshwater.  Of these species, insects in the orders Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera are often associated with clean, fast moving waters.  By contrast, many Dipteran species such as midges and mosquitoes can thrive in sub-optimal conditions with little oxygen or significant organic nutrient waste.

For more information regarding insects used in water quality testing visit: EPA: Macroinvertebrates.