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The Last Best Bug Lab in the Intermountain West

River Continuum Concepts

A recently emerged dragonfly left the larval skin behind to rule the skies as a proper dragonfly. The small wing-like looking lobes on the right are called wing pads--they contain the wings while the nymph grows underwater for about 1 year. The nymph's tracheae are also visible as the white thread-like structures on the left side. Yes, as with all other paurometabolous/ hemimetabolous insects, the tracheae had to be shed for the nymph to transform into an adult. Aren't you glad you didn't need to do that?

A recently emerged dragonfly left the larval skin behind to rule the skies as a proper dragonfly. The small wing-like looking lobes on the right are called wing pads--they contain the wings while the nymph grows underwater for about 1 year. The nymph's tracheae are also visible as the white thread-like structures on the left side. Yes, as with all other paurometabolous/ hemimetabolous insects, the tracheae had to be shed for the nymph to transform into an adult. Aren't you glad you didn't need to do that?

Some dragonfly larvae (aka nymphs) are just naturally happy.

Some dragonfly larvae (aka nymphs) are just naturally happy.

Our experimental Limnocorrals on Utah Lake

Our experimental Limnocorrals on Utah Lake

Daphnia retrocurva. Ya gotta love that helmet!

Daphnia retrocurva. Ya gotta love that helmet!

Pteronarcys californica, Henry's Fork, near Last Chance, March 18, 2025.

Pteronarcys californica, Henry's Fork, near Last Chance, March 18, 2025.

Experimental Ponds in spring

Experimental Ponds in spring

The Beasts! Dragonflies from Experimental Ponds near Utah Lake.

The Beasts! Dragonflies from Experimental Ponds near Utah Lake.

Zooplankton and Macroinvertebrate sampling, Utah Lake

Zooplankton and Macroinvertebrate sampling, Utah Lake

Our crew working up benthic samples from the upper Henry's Fork near Flat Rock.

Our crew working up benthic samples from the upper Henry's Fork near Flat Rock.

Dragonfly experimental ponds near Utah Lake

Dragonfly experimental ponds near Utah Lake

Dragonfly, experimental ponds, near Utah Lake

Dragonfly, experimental ponds, near Utah Lake

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