Macrocyclops (large cyclopoid copepod)
Macrocyclops spp. · Aquatic life
Under the microscope · Photo: Aleksandr Novikov / CC BY
Also called Macrocyclops fuscus, Macrocyclops albidus, Cyclopoid copepod
How to identify Macrocyclops (large cyclopoid copepod)
- Large cyclopoid copepod about 1.5 to 2.5 mm, easy to see by eye
- Stout teardrop body, often with blue or purple bands
- Short antennae and two large egg sacs on females
- Strong, darting swimmer among plants
Similar species
Smaller cyclopoids like Eucyclops and Acanthocyclops are separated by the lab; calanoids have long antennae.
Profile
| Season | Spring through fall. |
|---|---|
| Depth | Among plants and near the bottom |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Sexual reproduction; paired egg sacs |
| Habitat | Weedy shallows of ponds, marshes and lake edges. |
Why it matters in a lake
A strong predator that eats mosquito larvae, small zooplankton and fish fry. It has been studied as a natural mosquito control.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Copepoda |
| Order | Cyclopoida |
| Family | Cyclopidae |
| Scientific name | Macrocyclops spp. |
More copepod
Copepod nauplii
Acanthocyclops (cyclopoid copepod)
Diacyclops (cyclopoid copepod)
Leptodiaptomus (calanoid copepod)
Mesocyclops (cyclopoid copepod)
Eucyclops (weed bed copepod)
Cyclops (cyclopoid copepod)Skistodiaptomus (calanoid copepod)
Hesperodiaptomus (mountain lake copepod)Epischura (large calanoid copepod)
Acanthocyclops (cyclopoid copepod)Diacyclops (cyclopoid copepod)Leptodiaptomus (calanoid copepod)Mesocyclops (cyclopoid copepod)Eucyclops (weed bed copepod)Cyclops (cyclopoid copepod)Skistodiaptomus (calanoid copepod)Hesperodiaptomus (mountain lake copepod)Epischura (large calanoid copepod)Need a hand?
Found it in your lake?
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Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596