Representatives of Caddisfly Families (Trichoptera)
Tips for identification - Caddis larvae are more-or-less caterpillar like. When comparing your specimen to the photographs look at the overall length of the legs; some have short forelegs and long hind legs, others will have legs of approximately the same length.
Most larvae will have conspicuous hard plate-like structures called nota on the top of the first, second or third thoracic segments. See if the number of nota match those on your larvae. Some larvae have wart-like dorsal or lateral humps on the first abdominal segment. Look for these on the top and sides of the first abdominal segment. Note that these humps do not always stand out clearly from the body. They may be compressed almost all the way into the soft body and appear as only slight mounds. Caddis larvae have extremely small antennae compared to other aquatic insects. Even at a magnification of 30x you must look in exactly the right place on the larva's head to see them.
Here are some other tips.
- Larval length 2-40mm or more when mature
- Head distinctive
- Antennae small and inconspicuous
- Thoracic legs well developed
- Wing pads absent
| Family | Image | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Philopotamidae |  |
Pronotum with posterior black band |
| Philopotamidae |  |
Labrum soft and T-shaped |
| Polycentropodidae |  |
Note- trochantin is located where the base of the first leg attaches to the body |
| Polycentropodidae |  |
Pointed fore trochantin |
| Dipseudopsidae |  |
|
| Dipseudopsidae |  |
Tip of labium very long |
| Psychomyiidae |  |
Note- trochantin is located were the base of the first leg attaches to the body |
| Psychomyiidae |  |
Broad hatchet-shaped trochantin |
| Hydropsychidae |  |
Abdomen with rows of highly branched gills |
| Hydroptilidae |  |
Members of this family are never longer than 6.5mm and gills are inconspicuous |
| Glossosomatidae |  |
|
| Glossosomatidae |  |
Prosternal sclerotized plates large located underneath first thoracic segment |
| Rhyacophilidae |  |
Body thick with deep constrictions between segments with large posterior claws |
| Odontoceridae |  |
With dorsal hump and no lateral humps on first abdominal segment. Gills consist of clusters of many small filaments. |
| Lepidostomatidae |  |
With lateral humps on either side of first abdominal segment. |
| Lepidostomatidae |  |
|
| Brachycentridae |  |
Larvae lack dorsal or lateral humps |
| Brachycentridae |  |
Larvae often found in cases similar to these |
| Limnephilidae |  |
|
| Limnephilidae |  |
Antenna (extremely small) located between eye and anterior margin of head. |
| Limnephilidae |  |
Prosternal horn present |
| Limnephilidae |  |
First abdominal segment with dorsal and lateral humps. |
| Limnephilidae |  |
|
| Phyrganedae |  |
Head of most species with dark bands |
| Phyrganedae |  |
|
| Phyrganedae |  |
Prosternal horn present. With median sternellum, note this is a triangular shaped dark area just behind the underside of the head. |
| Molannidae |  |
|
| Molannidae |  |
Dark bands on head |
| Molannidae |  |
Case distinctive- flattened made form sand grains small rock fragments. |
| Helicopsychidae |  |
Cases resemble snail shells |
| Helicopsychidae |  |
Body coiled when out of case |
| Leptoceridae |  |
Antennae long, usually at least 6 times as long as wide. |
| Leptoceridae |  |
Sub ocular line along each side of head. |
| Leptoceridae |  |
Hind legs much longer than others. Note- body shape variable, no photo. |
| Goeridae |  |
|
| Goeridae |  |
Mesonotum with prominent forward projecting processes |