Caddisflies (Trichoptera)
| Life history | Caddisflies can spend from 2 months to 2 years as larvae in the water. They prepare a cocoon in the water during their pupal stage (before hatching into adults). |
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| Diversity | There are about 26 different families of caddisflies in North America. |
| Distinguishing characteristics |
Antennae are not visible; 3 pairs of segmented legs; no wing pads; head and first thoracic segment always has a hardened skin; pair of prolegs with one claw at end of soft abdomen; most larvae live in a portable case or retreat. |
| Habitat & Feeding | Caddisflies live in a wide range of habitats, including cool streams, warm streams, lakes, marshes, and permanent or temporary ponds. Caddisflies feeding is diverse; taxa within the group use almost every type of feeding strategy: shredders (eat decaying plant material), scrapers (eat algae off rocks), collector-gatherers (eat fine organic material), collector-filterers (eat fine organic material collected from the flowing water), or predators. |
| Water quality indicator status | Most types of caddisflies are pollution sensitive. Caddisflies are a good indicator of water quality because they live within a diversity of habitats. However, some types that are widespread, can tolerate pollution and environmental stress. Caddisfly larvae are part of the widely used EPT Index (Ephemeroptera-Plectoptera-Trichoptera) to measure water quality condition. It is the number of different types of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies. |
| Fun facts |
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Hydropsychidae family.
Philopotamidae family.
Brachycentrus sp.
Glossosoma sp.