order
                        
                      
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Adult Beetles”
                                  
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Larval Beetles”
                                  
                                    Diptera
                                       “True Flies”
                                  
                                    Ephemeroptera
                                       “Mayflies”
                                  
                                    Hemiptera
                                       “True Bugs”
                                  
                                    Lepidoptera
                                       “Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
                                  
                                    Megaloptera
                                       “Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
                                  
                                    Odonata
                                       “Dragonflies and Damselflies”
                                  
                                    Plecoptera
                                       “Stoneflies”
                                  
                                    Trichoptera
                                       “Caddisflies”
                                 family
                        
                     Ameletidae
               
            genus
                     Ameletus
            
                  “Comb-mouthed Minnow Mayflies”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        Ameletus was previously included among genera of the Siphloneuridae, is now the only genus in the family Ameletidae. There are 34 known species in North America, most from west of the Rocky Mountains. Larvae are fusiform or streamlined in body shape, making them strong swimmers and clingers. They are collector-gatherers or scraper-grazers, feeding on detritus and diatoms. They tend to be found in cold, fast-flowing mountain streams, especially along edges, beneath undercut banks, and in root masses. The genus can often be confused with Isonychia or Baetis, but can be distinguished by its maxillae, each with a row of golden pectinate spines.
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: 2.1 and higher
                                 Upper Midwest: 0 and higher
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Collector / Gatherer
Scraper / Grazer
                        
                     Scraper / Grazer
MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Clinger
Swimmer
                        
                     Swimmer
DISTRIBUTION
                        
                                 Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
                        
                     HABITAT
                        
                                 Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
                        
                     Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
               order
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Abdominal Gills
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Single Tarsal Claw
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Usually 3 Tails
                                 family
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Notched Upper Lip
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Pectinate Spines On Maxillae
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Short Antennae
                                 genus
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Only 1 Genus
                                 
                  + Expanded Character List
                  
                     
               
            
                        Order:
                           Wings developing in wing pads. Mouthparts suitable for chewing. Gills present on tops and sides of abdomen. Segmented legs present. One tarsal claw per leg. Usually with 3 tails (sometimes 2).
                     
                     
                        Family:
                           Body not flat. Labrum without notched distal margin and maxillae each with row of golden pectinate spines. Tusks absent. Antennae shorter than twice width of head. Thoracic notum not turtle-shell-shaped. Abdominal terga usually without paired tubercles. Abdominal segment 2 with gills similar to those on other segments but NOT operculate/semioperculate; with single lamellae more or less oval and with sclerotized band along lateral margin and usually with a similar sclerotized band on or near mesal margin; gills usually not fringed; never ending in filaments or points. Forelegs without long hairs. Tibiae and tarsi not bowed; claws usually not long and slender. Claws of all legs similar, usually sharply pointed, variable in length. Three tails of about equal length.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Body not flat. Labrum with notched distal margin and maxillae each with row of golden pectinate spines. Tusks absent. Thoracic notum not turtle-shell-shaped. Abdominal terga usually without paired tubercles. Abdominal segment two with gills similar to those on other segments but NOT operculate/semioperculate; with single lamellae more or less oval and with a sclerotized band along lateral margin and usually with a similar sclerotized band on or near mesal margin; usually not fringed; never ending in filaments or points. Forelegs without long hairs. Tibiae and tarsi not bowed; claws usually not long and slender. Claws of all legs similar, usually sharply pointed, variable in length. Three tails about same length.
                     
                   
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Lateral
               Ventral
               


