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River Restoration

Bug collecting net

Rock-turning for experts November 2006

BMWP scores the full list

Family Common name BMWP scoring
Siphlonuridæ Mayfly: Large summer dun 10
Heptageniidæ Mayfly: Yellow may 10
Leptophlebiidæ Mayfly: Ditch, sepia, claret or purple dun 10
Ephemerellidæ Mayfly: Blue-winged olive 10
Potamanthidæ Mayfly 10
Ephemeridæ Mayfly: Green drakes 10
Taeniopterygidæ Stonefly 10
Leuctridæ Needle or willow stonefly 10
Capniidæ Stonefly 10
Perlodidæ Stonefly 10
Perlidæ Stonefly 10
Chloroperlidæ Stonefly 10
Aphelochaeridæ Saucer bug 10
Molannidæ Cased caddis 10
Beraeidæ Cased caddis 10
Odontoceridæ Casecaddis 10
Leptoceridæ Cased caddis: Grousewing or black silverhorn sedge 10
Goeridæ Cased caddis: Medium sedge 10
Lepidostomatidæ Cased caddis 10
Brachycentridæ Cased caddis 10
Sericostomatidæ Cased caddis: Welshman's button sedge 10
Ecnomidæ Caddis 8
Astacidæ Freshwater crayfish 8
Lestidæ Emerald damselfly 8
Calopterygidæ Demoiselle damselfly 8
Gomphidæ Club-tailed dragonfly 8
Cordulegasteridæ Golden-ringed dragonfly 8
Aeshnidæ Hawker dragonfly 8
Corduliidæ Emerald dragonfly 8
Libellulidæ Chaser & darter dragonfly 8
Psychomyiidæ Caddis: small red sedge 8
Philopotamidæ Caseless caddis 8
Glossosomatidæ Caseless micro-caddis 7
Cænidæ Mayfly: Caenis or Angler's Curse 7
Nemouridae Small brown stonefly 7
Rhyacophilidæ Caddis 7
Polycentropidæ Caseless caddis 7
Limnephilidæ Cased caddis: cinnamon sedge 7
Acroloxidæ Lake limpet 6
Crangonyctidæ Freshwater shrimp 6
Neritidæ Nerite snail 6
Viviparidæ River snail 6
Ancylidæ River snail or river limpet 6
Hydroptilidæ Cased micro-caddis 6
Unionidæ Swan mussel 6
Corophiidæ Freshwater shrimp 6
Gammaridæ Freshwater shrimp 6
Platycnemidæ Damselfly 6
Coenagrionidæ Damselfly 6
Dugesiidæ Flatworm 5
Hydrænidæ Scavenger beetle 5
Mesoveliidæ Bug 5
Hydrometridæ Water measurer 5
Gerridæ Pond skater 5
Nepidæ Water scorpion 5
Naucoridæ Saucer bug 5
Notonectidæ Backswimmer or water boatman 5
Pleidæ Lesser backswimmer 5
Corixidæ Lesser water boatman 5
Halipidæ Water beetle 5
Hygrobiidæ Screech or squeak beetle 5
Dytiscidæ Diving beetle 5
Gyrinidæ Whirligig beetle 5
Hydrophilidæ Scavenger beetle 5
Clambidæ Beetle 5
Scirtidæ Beetle (aquatic larvæ only) 5
Dryopidæ Beetle 5
Elmidæ Riffle beetle 5
Chrysomelidæ Beetle (aquatic larvæ only) 5
Curculionidæ Beetle (weevil) 5
Hydropsychidæ Caseless caddis: Grey flag or marbled sedge 5
Tipulidæ Cranefly 5
Simuliidæ Blackfly 5
Planariidæ Flatworm 5
Dendrocoelidæ Flatworm 5
Noteridæ Diving beetle 5
Bætidæ Mayfly: Large dark olive or spurwing 4
Sialidæ Alder fly 4
Piscicolidæ Fish leech 4
Bithyniidæ Snail 3
Valvatidæ Snail 3
Hydrobiidæ Snail 3
Lymnæidæ Pond snail 3
Physidæ Bladder snail 3
Planorbidæ Ramshorn snail 3
Sphæriidæ Pea & orb mussel 3
Glossiphoniidæ Leech 3
Hirudididæ Leech 3
Erpobdellidæ Leech 3
Asellidæ Water hoglouse or water slater 3
Chironomidæ Midge 2
Enchytræidæ White worm 1
Oligochæta Annelid worm 1
Lumbriculidæ Worm 1
Naididæ Worm 1
Tubificidæ Sludge-worm 1
Lumbricidæ Square-tailed worm 1
Ceratopogonidæ Biting midge 0
Chaoboridæ Phantom or ghost midge 0
Empididæ Fly 0
Hebridæ Semi-aquatic bug 0
Hydracarina Water mite 0
Muscidæ Flies (incl. house fly) 0
Nematoda Roundworm or nematode 0
Ostracoda Seed shrimp 0
Psychodidæ Owl-midge or moth-fly 0
Ptychopteridæ Phantom crane-fly 0
Rhagionidæ Snipe-fly 0
Syrphidæ Hover-fly 0
Stratiomydæ Soldier-fly 0
Tabanidæ Horse-fly 0
Veliidæ Water cricket 0
Daphniidæ Water flea 0
Lepidoptera Butterfly or moth 0
Thaumaleidæ Fly 0
Culcidæ Mosquito or gnat 0
Spongillidæ Freshwater sponge 0
Dixidæ Meniscus midge 0
Sisyridæ Spongefly 0
Osmylidæ Spongefly 0
Dreissenidæ Zebra mussel 0
Copepoda Water flea 0
Scatopsidæ Fly 0
Collembola Springtail 0
Hydra Hydra 0
Branchiura Gilled worm 0

Credits:

Many thanks to Janet Moore, EA Ecological Appraisal Officer, for supplying me with the original version of this list – and to my wife for helping me to retype it.

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About the Author: Theo Pike is a Trustee of the Wandle Trust taking a lead in restoring South London's River Wandle. He's also Senior Vice President of the Wandle Piscators fishing club, and can be contacted via his website at www.blackrussian.cc

Notes

Next Time, 'Organising a river cleanup'.