Recommended Identification Resources

By Dr. John Morse, Clemson University.

Here are some resources you will be able to use after you have learned to recognize diagnostic characters, thanks to this website (beginning with most recent):

​Merritt, R.W., K.W. Cummins, and M.B. Berg. (2019) An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America, 5th edition. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa. 1300 pp.

[Covers general ecology and identification of North American aquatic insects to the level of genus; also includes tables for habitat, habit, feeding behaviors, general distribution, and tolerance values for each genus, with comprehensive bibliography.]
NOTE: This volume is scheduled to be published next month, possibly before our launch date, but certainly very soon.

Morse, J.C., W.P. McCafferty, B.P. Stark, & L.M. Jacobus. (2017) Larvae of the Southeastern USA Mayfly, Stonefly, and Caddisfly Species (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera). Biota of South Carolina, volume 9. Technical Bulletin 1109, PSA Publishing, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. 482 pp.
[Covers identification of southeastern USA mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly larvae to level of genus and species.]

Thorp, J.H., and D.C. Rogers. (2016) Thorp and Covich's Freshwater Invertebrates--Volume II: Keys to Nearctic Fauna. Elsevier, Boston, Massachusetts (etc.). 740 pp.

[Covers identification of freshwater invertebrates (Protozoa and 14 invertebrate phyla) for North America, sometimes to level of genus, insects to level of family only.]

Triplehorn, C.A., and N.F. Johnson. (2005) Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition. Thomson Brooks/Cole, Belmont, California (etc.). 864 pp.
https://www.worldcat.org/title/borror-and-delongs-introduction-to-the-study-of-insects/oclc/55793895
[Covers general ecology and identification of North American insect families for aquatic and terrestrial adults.]

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. (2004) Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest. Regents of the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. 207 pp.
https://midge.cfans.umn.edu/midwest-guide
[Covers identification of freshwater invertebrates of the Upper Midwest, USA, to family level; also includes feeding behaviors, tolerance values, and primary habitat preferences.]

Voshell, J.R., Jr. (2002) A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia. 442 pp.
https://www.worldcat.org/title/guide-to-common-freshwater-invertebrates-of-north-america/oclc/48966604
[Covers general ecology and identification of 100 most-common freshwater invertebrate groups for North America to level of invertebrate phyla and insect families.]​