Protocols for collecting, vouchering and digitization of aquatic Hexapoda and data uses for answering broad ecological and conservation questions

Approximately 100,000 described species of Collembola and 11 orders of insects have freshwater aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestages. Agencies the world over use them as indicators of running water quality and many species are imperiled due to pollution and habitat degradation. We discuss best practices for the collection, preservation, long-term storage and data management of these aquatic Hexapoda. Additionally, we discuss our use of combined museum data, selected literature records and new sampling to assess changes in the Plecoptera fauna of the Midwest, USA (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) over two centuries.