(a) Number of observation records per 500-m elevational band. (b) Number of genera and the number of their observation records in the database. (c) Cumulative number of observation records of each order over the last 70 years (only data with exact sampling years included). Credit: Global Ecology and Biogeography (2023). DOI: 10.1111/geb.13648

From water to air: we only know many flying insects as adults, but many of them have their first life stages in the water. The larvae of mayflies, for example, spend almost a year in the shallow shore zones of standing waters before they come ashore for a few days as adult flies.

These so-called semi-aquatic are an important food source for animals in the water and on land and are used as bioindicators to assess and the state of freshwater ecosystems. Thanks to the commitment of nearly 100 researchers, the EPTO-database is the first global data source regarding geo-referenced and freely available data sets on aquatic insect occurrences worldwide. The project was coordinated by IGB.

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera) and dragonflies (Odonata) live as in water bodies, i.e. they are semi-aquatic. Together with the purely aquatic insects, these insects make up around 6 percent of all —a significant proportion.

They are now being recorded for the first time in a comprehensive database, called the EPTO-database. The period of investigation extends from 1951 to 2021, and a total of over 8.3 million georeferenced records are listed, most of which are publicly accessible to researchers and authorities.

If you monitor them closely, you can foresee ecosystem deterioration early enough

"This new database is an important basis for planning and evaluating restoration measures of aquatic ecosystems, because insect larvae are bioindicators, i.e. indicator species for water quality. If you monitor them closely, you can foresee ecosystem deterioration early enough," explained Afroditi Grigoropoulou, scientist at the IGB and lead author of the study.

Dragonfly larvae or caddisfly larvae are because they react sensitively to a deterioration of their living conditions—and many are in poor condition. Currently, 33 percent of known EPTO species are considered threatened according to the IUCN Red List, and the extinction rate—species that have not been traced in the last 50 years—is 9 percent.

"The new EPTO database makes it possible to map the occurrence and species composition. This could help to better protect these insects in the future," said IGB researcher Sami Domisch, who led the study.

His team developed the Hydrography90m dataset, which serves as the basis for the database. This is a high-resolution stream network model that depicts even small and tiny streams. In this way, the species could be spatially precisely assigned. But the database is far from finished: "We invite researchers to contribute to the database, especially with insect occurrences from under-sampled areas which we highlight in our global maps. Of course, other researchers are invited to use the data," said Afroditi Grigoropoulou.

Fascinating facts: Rash lower lip in dragonfly larvae, upcycling in caddisfly larvae

These live almost unnoticed in the water, which is another reason why the authors feel it is important to draw attention to them. Their habits are fascinating. We have already mentioned that the mayfly could actually be called "annual fly-in-water." The larval development of stoneflies in water also lasts much longer than the adult stage on land—even up to several years. During this time, they molt about 10 to 25 times.

Dragonfly larvae, like the winged adults, also feed predatorily. They have catching masks, a special formation of the lower jaw—unique in the animal world. Within 0.2 seconds, the catching mask springs forward, snatches at the prey with two movable front teeth and springs back.

Actually, caddisflies look rather inconspicuous. Their larvae, on the other hand, are very individual. This is because many of them build a caddis as a dwelling with the help of small particles they find. Only the head and legs protrude from this living tube. When the larva grows, new material is simply added to the front end. Some species use nets to catch, which they spin from their secretions and lay out across the current to filter food out of the water.

More information: Afroditi Grigoropoulou et al, The global EPTO database: Worldwide occurrences of aquatic insects, Global Ecology and Biogeography (2023). DOI: 10.1111/geb.13648

Journal information: Global Ecology and Biogeography