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A dragonfly nymph of the genus Erythemis.
All dragonfly and damselfly nymphs have a specialized "lip"
that unfolds to reach out and capture prey.
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This hydra belongs to a group called the Cnidaria,
which also include jellyfish, corals, attached anemones and other
polyps. Just like jellyfish, hydras have a specialized cell on the
tentacles that contains a stinger that is fired on prey to sting
or entwine them. The prey is then pulled in by the tentacles to
the mouth.
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Can you guess what this is? This is a larva of
a beetle of the genus Haliplus. Both
adults and larvae are herbivorous. The larvae are sluggish crawlers
whereas the adults are good swimmers.
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This damselfly nymph of the genus Enallagma
has caught a beetle for lunch. Damselflies and dragonflies feed
on insects, molluscs, crustaceans, aquatic earthworms, and even
small vertebrates. The larvae breathe through three external gills
at the hind end of the body.
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This leech (Helobdella stagnalis)
has inserted its head into a snail's shell in order to feed on it.
This leech also feeds on aquatic insects and worms. Other leeches
are strictly parasitic on fish or crustaceans. Leeches can be found
in warm shallow waters that are protected from currents.
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Of all lepidopterans, only one family of moths
(Pyralidae) has truly aquatic larvae. Aquatic caterpillars, like
this one belonging to the genus Synclita,
are herbivorous and pupate under water in silken cocoons.
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Neoplea striola has
specialized needle-like mouthparts for piercing and sucking out
the liquids inside their prey, in this case a hydra. Hemipterans
(the order of sucking insects) are predators that feed on insects
and crustaceans. Larger Hemipterans can also feed on frogs and fish.
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Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies), like this
damselfly nymph of the genus Enallagma,
are predators with eyes that are well developed for hunting. Some
nymphs burrow in the sediment and ambush while others actively stalk
their prey on submerged plants.
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Caddisfly larvae, like this one belonging to the
genus Oecetis, build cases by using silk
to cement found materials together. They use these cases to aid
respiration, as ballast to sink, as camouflage and as a pupal case.
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