International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Volume 6 Issue 2, February 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Aquatic Insects for Biomonitoring Freshwater Ecosystems: A Report Dr. Reeta Solanki 1 , Arjun Shukla 2 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Govt. M.H. College of Home Science, Jabalpur (M.P.) 2 Research Scholar, Department of zoology, Govt. Model Science College, Jabalpur (M.P.) Abstract: Aquatic insects may considered model organisms in analyzing the structure and function of the freshwater ecosystem because of their high abundance, high birth rate with short generation time, large biomass and rapid colonization of freshwater habitats. Aquatic insects are the major groups of arthropods that spend some parts of their life cycle in the water. Class Insect has many potential representatives that can be used as environmental bioindicators, among which are from the Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera. Water insects or aquatic beetles are biological indicator. The use of bioindicators is essential for environmental monitoring. This study deals with diversity and Importance of aquatic beetles in fresh water ecosystem and their role in water quality assessment as pollution indicator. Keywords: Ecosystem, Diversity, Insect, Indicator, Pollution, Freshwater. 1. Introduction Water is one among the prime necessities of life required for growth and activity of all living beings on globe. Only small amount of water that occurs in fresh water rivers, streams, lakes and tanks is available for the terrestrial life. Insects are the most diverse group of organisms in freshwater. There are about 7, 51,000 known species of insects, which is about three-fourth known species of plants and animals on the planet. These are also the only invertebrates that can fly [1]. Even though a majority of the insect species lives in freshwater environments, such as swamps, ponds, lakes, springs, streams and rivers, these are called aquatic insects. There are about 45000 species of insects, known to inhabit diverse freshwater ecosystems. Less than 3% of all species of insects have aquatic stages in some freshwater biotopes, insects may comprise over 95% of the total individual or species of macroinvertebrates. They play important ecological roles in keeping freshwater ecosystems functioning properly. They are best indicators for Bio assessment and the abiotic environment of the water body directly affect in the distribution, population density and diversity of the fresh water insects. Insects are especially of great significance for fisheries that they themselves act as food of bottom feeder fishes. Water beetles are very integral part of the biotic component of any water body or wetland. Water beetles are very integral parts of the biotic component of any water bodies or wetlands. Water Beetle is common name for any of numerous aquatic beetles including the true or diving water beetles, the whirligig beetles, and the water scavenger beetles. There are approximately 2000 species of true water beetles native to land areas throughout the world. The hardened elytra, or using covers, which are usually grooved in the female & smooth in the male form a cavity above the body proper. The Beetles rise periodically to the surface of the water to draw a fresh supply of air in to the elytra cavity. 2. Types of Aquatic Insects Aquatic insects include following taxonomic orders: (i) Collembola - the springtails (springs and spring ponds). (ii) Ephemeroptera - the mayflies (lakes and streams). (iii) Odonata - the dragonflies and damselflies (lakes and streams). (iv) Plecoptera - the stone flies (streams). (v) Hemiptera - the true bugs (lake and stream margin). (vi) Neuroptera/Megaloptera - the dobsonflies, alderflies, and spongillaflies, parasitic on sponges (mainly streams). (vii) Trichoptera - the caddisflies (lakes and streams). (viii) Lepidoptera - the butterflies and moths (aquatic catterpillar). (ix) Coleoptera - the beetles (lakes and streams). (x) Hymenoptera –diving wasps (terrestrial, parasitic on aquatic insects). (xi) Diptera - the true flies (all aquatic habitats). 3. Life Cycle Aquatic insects are a major group of arthropods which at least one stage of their life cycleoccurs in water. Most of them live in water in primary stages that fallowed by terrestrial adult (e.g., Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Megaloptera). Semi aquatic insect are only associated with aquatic and semi aquatic vegetation, the water’s surface, or the margins of water habitats [2]. Water beetle is adapted to live in water. There are few water species that live in the intertidal zone. Some species of water beetles have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. 4. Importance as Vector These insects play an important role for transmission of some human and animal diseases. Some species of aquatic insect are medically important vectors that transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, filariasis, yellow fever, and some other main parvoviruses. Furthermore few numbers of them havea painful bite that cause dermatological effect on human and animal host. Some of them act as a host of trematods Paper ID: ART20171284 2056