Lake life is plentiful and not all lake creatures are easy to see. Take a look inside the water to see tiny water critters using an underwater scope or use a microscope to find these wonderful creatures.

Play the Aquatic Critter Key Game and learn how to tell these wacky critters apart.

photo of fairy shrimp found in Milwaukee County
illustration of an aquatic sowbug
The isopod is a scavenger that uses its seven pairs of legs to move around.
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a group of aquatic springtails
Just like people at a mall, these tiny wingless insect-like creatures mill around in huge numbers.
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illustration of backswimmer as seen from above
The name of this critter describes it perfectly.
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front end of a bristle worm
These tiny, uncommon animals have pairs of bristles on each segment. They are sometimes called feather duster worms!
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illustration of a brown bullhead by Virgil Beck
The bullhead is an interesting, smooth-skinned fish.
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illustration of a caddisfly larva inside its case of sand particles
The caddisfly lives only a short time as an adult but may spend several years as a larva.
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Crawling Water Beetle, Photo Credit: Robert Webster
This beetle lives among plants in shallow water.
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prairie crayfish in an observation container
Crayfish are related to lobsters, but live in freshwater. 
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illustration of two copepods
The copepod is a small crustacean that looks like a swimming apostrophe mark (').
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Damselfly illustration
The damselfly is closely related to the dragonfly.
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illustration of a dobsonfly larvae with many legs
Trout and other fish find the young of these insects delicious.
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Hine's Emerald Dragonfly on a twig
Dragonflies are a spectacular and colorful group of insects.
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Fairy shrimp, Photo Credit: Distant Hill Gardens
This graceful animal lives only in temporary ponds, never in pond
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Fingernail Clam
This pale tiny clam never gets bigger than a fingernail.
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six-spotted fishing spider resting on the top of the water
This water spider has eight legs, no wings, an
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Mussels
How would you like to have a shell, no eyes and catch your food with your nose? No?
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illustration of a giant water bug
This huge insect sometimes grows to be two or more inches in length.
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photo of a tiny hydra clinging to algae
The amazing hydra is related to the jellyfish.
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Leech
Can you imagine one of your friends clinging onto you, sucking your blood?
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photo of mayfly nymph
The mayfly and damselfly nymphs look almost like twins, but look closely at their gills.
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an illustration of a midge or bloodworm larvae
Young midges can be found in all sorts of water; some live in hot
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an Asian mosquito biting someone's skin
This interesting insect goes through four distinct stages.
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photo of mudpuppy taken from above
You'll never walk this critter on a leash because the mudpuppy isn't a dog and it doesn't live on land.
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a snail with an elongate shell held in a person's hand
Think how hard it would be to carry your house on your back!
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illustration of a phantom midge larvae
The phantom midge larva is so clear it's nearly invisible.
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Planaria
The planaria or flatworm looks a lot like a garden worm.
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illustration of a predaceous diving beetle
This beetle is one of the most common of all aquatic beetles.
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Scud
Can you tell why the scud is often called the sideswimmer?
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Seed shrimp, Photo Credit: Dann Thombs
This almost microscopic member of the freshwater plankton is a scavenger.
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Soldier Fly larva
It is ALIVE!
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stonefly nymph
Stonefly nymphs need to eat all they can because when they become adults they don't eat!
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photo of bullfrog tadpole resting on the bottom of a pond
How does a small egg become a frog?
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a closeup look at a nematode
The threadworm is commonly found in bottom muck or sand throughout the world.
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illustration of tubifex worms
This aquatic angleworm is right at home in mucky water.
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Water Boatman illustration
This insect's body is shaped like a boat, perfect for swimming.
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Water flea or daphnia
Did you ever itch to catch a water flea?
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Water mite
The water mite is a round critter with eight legs and one eye.
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photograph of a water scavenger beetle
Just as you would expect from its name, this large beetle feeds on dead stuff.
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Water Scorpion Nepa
How long can you stand without moving?
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Whirligig Beetle
This beetle zips in wild patterns all around the surface of quiet water.
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