The next time you peer into a pond or lake and see movement in the water, some of it may be caused by swimming aquatic insects. Emergent aquatic insects begin their life cycle as eggs that have been laid on or near water, waiting to hatch in good growing conditions, usually in spring. Once they hatch, they have a swimming life stage (called “larvae”) and will feed and grow in rivers, wetlands, ponds, or lakes. Some species of emergent aquatic insects only feed on algae, which are plant-like organisms found in aquatic ecosystems. Other species feed on other small insect larvae, worms, tadpoles, and even small fishes. After developing in the water, emergent aquatic insects will go through metamorphosis, a process where they turn from wingless aquatic insects to winged terrestrial insects. The male and female adult insects will mate, and the female will lay her eggs on, or near, the water to repeat the cycle. Depending on the insect species, this process can take a few weeks to a few years, for example, mosquitos can go through their entire life cycle in less than two weeks.
