Teacher’s Quick Links
…showcases magnified images and videos of freshwater invertebrates, insect larvae, crustaceans and tadpoles so students can feel as though they are looking through the microscopes themselves. This video is dedicated…
Copepods
There are many different species of Copepods. Few of the species in vernal pools have been named. You are most likely to spot the bright red Diaptomus and at least…
Fairy Shrimp
Fairy Shrimp are pale-colored (normally gray-white) and transparent. They have a long, narrow body with 11 pairs of paddle-like legs. Females have a brood pouch which holds eggs, located directly…
Seed Shrimp
Many different species of Seed Shrimp live in vernal pools. They come in many colors. They have a single eye. The body of a Seed Shrimp is protected by two…
Water Flea
A Water Flea swims in a jerky, hopping motion like a flea. A carapace (shell) covers most of its body. The carapace is hinged on one side. The other side…
Aquatic Beetles
The most common species of Aquatic Beetles in vernal pools come from two families: The Predaceous Diving Beetles (the Dytiscids) and the Water Scavenger Beetles (the Hydrophilids). The larvae of…
YELC Has Been a Huge Success!
…aquatic invertebrates and fish Learning about fluvial geomorphology (Yes, the campers know what it is!) and creek restoration by playing with a stream table Touring behind-the-scenes of Regional San’s huge…
Dragonflies and Damselflies
The adult Dragonfly has a long and narrow body. It holds its wings out to its sides when perched. Dragonflies also have very large eyes that touch each other in…
Mosquito
Adult Mosquitoes are gray or black and have two scaly wings. Females have a long, straw-like mouth for sucking blood. Males look different, with feathery antennae and mouthparts that cannot…
Solitary Bees
These are small bees, often mistaken for a fly, if not observed closely. They are black or dark gray, sometimes with gray hairs on the face and head. Solitary Bees…