Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata (EPTO) genera of Zimbabwe

Study Extent

The list covers 4 insect orders (Ephemereptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata) that have ever been recorded in Zimbabwe

Sampling

All records of specimens identified to genus, species or sub species level, collected as early as 1911 from 5 African museums (Albany Museum, Natural history museum of Zimbabwe, Botswana National Museum, National Museums of kenya and Natural History Museum of the Eduardo Mondlane University) where collated and used to develop this checklist. The records where digitized into Microsft Excel (2010) database and the records where cleaned using OPEN REFINE Data cleaning tool (Version 2.5). Taxonomic ranks, status and authorship was also verified using The Catalogue of life List Matching Service (2017), Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) database, The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) name parser (2011) and The Global Names index database where possible.

Quality Control

Records were standardised to DarwinCore standards. An effort was made to check errors and inconsistencies among the data using Excel and OPEN REFINE Data validation tools. We followed the guidelines proposed by Chapman 2005 and also checked for author names, accepted species names and taxonomical errors in the data set.

Method steps

1. The creation of the checklist included the following processes: 1 A list of aquatic insects and ants recorded from the given study area was obtained from the museum specimen records and literature found in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe Entomology Collection. 2 Digitization and documentation of the list was done using Microsoft Excel (2010) database using Darwin Core Standards. 3. Data validation and cleaning was then carried out in OPEN REFINE (Version 2.5) as well as Microsoft Excel (2010) data validation tools. 4 The determination of taxonomic status and authorship and checking for taxonomic errors was carried out using The Catalogue of life List Matching Service, Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) database, The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) name parser and The Global Names Index database where possible. 5. The dataset was then uploaded and published on the GBIF database using The Integrated Publishing Toolkit (version 1.2) for the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe.

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) The order Ephemeroptera has a cosmopolitan distribution but is absent from, oceanic islands the Arctic and antartic. Mayflies are insects of inland waters and are aquatic only in their juvenile stages (Ephemeroptera 2009). The nymphs are characteristic of shallow streams and littoral areas of lakes where they are widely distributed. However, many species are restricted to specific substrata of macrophytes, sediments of waveswept or moving stream areas, or sediments of specific sized particles. Mayflies are found in rich abundance in cool, clean unpolluted headwater streams, where they are an important source of food for fish (Ephemeroptera 2009). Some species can regulate respiratory movements of gills in response to changing oxygen concentrations. However, very small amounts of organic pollution can sometimes, initially, increase the numbers and production of certain species while others are exterminated. Species of Baetis (Family Baetidae) seem the most tolerant to pollution and these and others are often used as indicators of water quality. Plecoptera (Stoneflies) All stonefly nymphs are aquatic, and resemble the adults in many respects. They also have three-segmented tarsi. The nymphs always have long cerci and never a third central tail or median caudal filament. Gills, if they have them, can occur on various parts of the thorax and abdomen and are composed only of filaments, not plates. Some nymphs are known to molt 12-36 times, and require one to three years to mature. Full-grown nymphs leave the water, cling to shoreline vegetation and debris, and molt into the adult stage Stoneflies are most abundant in cool, temperate climates. Nymphs usually live beneath stones in fast-moving, well-aerated water. Oxygen diffuses through the exoskeleton or into tracheal gills located on the thorax, behind the head, or around the anus. Adult stoneflies are generally found on the banks of streams and rivers from which they have emerged (Hapairai & Johnson 2006). They are not active fliers and usually remain near the ground where they feed on algae or lichens. In many species, the adults are short-lived and do not have functional mouthparts. Nymphs feed on algae, diatoms, mosses, and immature aquatic invertebrates, including mayflies and midges while most adults do not feed, and are nocturnal. Stoneflies are an important source of food for game fish such as trout and bass in cold mountain streams for example the Eastern Highlands in Zimbabwe.
Trichoptera (Caddisflies) Trichoptera is the largest order of insects in which most members are truly aquatic. Caddisflies have the ability to spin silk an adaptation that may be largely responsible for the success of this group. Silk is used to build retreats, nets for collecting food, for construction of cases, for anchoring to the substrate, and to spin a cocoon for the pupa. Almost all caddisflies live in a case or retreat with the exception of Rhyacophilidae. Caddisflies are important in aquatic ecosystems because they process organic material and are an important food source for fish. This group displays a variety of feeding habits such as filter collectors, collector gatherers, scrapers, shredders, piercer herbivores, and predators. Caddisflies are most abundant in running waters. Like Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera, many Trichoptera species are sensitive to pollution. Odonata The order Odonata comprises of two suborders Anisoptera (dragonflies) and Zygoptera (damselflies).The name dragonfly is commonly applied to all odonates, but it is also used to differentiate the suborder Anisoptera from the suborder Zygoptera. The adults are large, and often brightly coloured. Even though they can fly, odonates are considered aquatic insects because they live near fresh water and their larvae actually live in water. They are active during the day and are often seen flying near water. The aquatic larvae as well as adults of odonates are voracious predators. Odonates are globally distributed from the tropics to boreal forests and throughout the Southern Hemisphere, with the exception of Antarctica.

1. Ephemeroptera
   common name: Mayflies rank: order
2. Plecoptera
   common name: Stoneflies rank: order
3. Trichoptera
   common name: Caddisflies rank: order
4. Odonata
   common name: Dragonflies and Damselflies rank: order

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, lying between latitudes 15° and 23°S, and longitudes 25° and 34°E. The country consists of a central plateau called the Highveld which covers most the country and stretches from the southwest northwards with altitudes between 1,000 and 1,600 m. A low lying area of under 900m(altitude) called the low veld makes up a small portion of the country about 20%. To the extreme east of the country are the eastern highlands, a mountainous area with Mt Inyangani being the highest point measuring a height of 2,592m.