Naturally Bexar

Water Bugs

Clean or Polluted

Texas Parks and Wildlife has published a terrific one-page handout titled "Bug Picking - Is Your Creek Clean or Polluted?"

The worksheet uses a point system to gauge water quality, based on the kinds of underwater critters that can be identified.

If you would like a copy of this handy guide, call the TPWD Urban Programs office in San Antonio at 210.348.6350.

Or you can do a little Internet research and find plenty of photos or line drawings that will help you get started.

Clean water animals...those that are pollution sensitive...include:

Caddisfly

Dobsonfly

Mayfly

Riffle Beetle

Stonefly

Water Penny

Fair Water Animals

Animals that are somewhat pollution tolerant are:

Clam

Crayfish

Damselfly larvae

Dragonfly larvae

Planarian

Scud

Polluted Water Animals

Local aquatic biologists say that ten to fifteen years ago, some of our local streams were so contaminated, you'd be lucky to find even pollution tolerant critters.

Thankfully, much has changed. Here though, is a list of pollution tolerant water animals.

Aquatic Worm

Blackfly

Coiled Snail

Leech

Midgefly larvae

Pouch Snail

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