Caddisflies
Order Trichoptera
The Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera) includes 465 species across 24 families and 109 genera in our directory.
About Caddisflies
Trichoptera (caddisflies) includes ~14,500 described species worldwide. Larvae are aquatic and build protective cases from silk, sand, pebbles, and plant material - each species creates a distinctive case design.
Economic Impact
Caddisfly larvae are among the most important biological indicators of water quality. Their presence or absence in streams is used by the EPA and state agencies to assess pollution levels and ecosystem health.
Ecological Role
Caddisfly larvae are critical food sources for trout and other freshwater fish, making them essential to recreational fishing industries worth billions annually. Their silk is being researched as an underwater adhesive for medical applications.
Families in Trichoptera (24)
Species in Trichoptera (465)
Anisocentropus pyraloides
Anisocentropus pyraloides
Identification: Larvae and pupae described by Wallace and Sherberger (1970). Adults are fairly distinctive, with broad, dark brown to black forewings and orange legs.
Banksiola crotchi
Banksiola crotchi
Identification: Head: Brown. Eyes large and dark. Whiskers (palpi) are short; 4 segments on male and 3 segments on females. Antenna: Thick, as long as body and have even bands of dark and light rings. Thorax: Brown, slightly hairy. Wings: Background
Black Dancer Caddisfly
Mystacides sepulchralis
Identification: "Only two species of Mystacides occur in the east and the other one has brownish wings." (comment by Simon Carmichael, here ). Males have red eyes.
Dolophilodes distinctus
Dolophilodes distinctus
Identification: Females are nearly wingless during the winter (very short wing stubs), and are fully winged like males during the warmer months.
Hydatophylax argus
Hydatophylax argus
Identification: Adult: head and posterior dorsal thorax yellow; forewing with about 10 clear oval patches surrounded by brown shading near middle of wing; band of clear elongate cells along outer margin, separated by brown veins; basal half of wing w
Hydroptila arctia
Hydroptila arctia
Identification: Would require specimen collection and microscopic examination, cannot be identified by color pattern (fide D Ruiter).
Kolodski's Caddisfly
Neophylax kolodskii
It is one of 211 caddisfly species known to inhabit the Park, including seven belonging to the genus Neophylax . - NPS
Limnephilus ornatus
Limnephilus ornatus
Identification: forewing has a mix of light, medium, and dark brown streaks surrounding short white stripes in the median area; the longest white stripe is in the middle of the wing; 3 or 4 smaller, connected, elliptical stripes/spots in subterminal
Macrostemum carolina
Macrostemum carolina
Identification: Adult very similar to M. zebratum , but slightly smaller and with darker wing patterns. Also, eyes of M. carolina are larger, with narrower space between. Genitalia very similar, and the two species are presumed to interbreed where
Nectopsyche exquisita
Nectopsyche exquisita
Identification: Adult: body long and slender; antennae banded dark and pale brown, much longer than body; head and thorax yellowish-brown and covered with white hair; forewing with brownish-yellow crossbands and four square black spots on posterior m
Nemotaulius hostilis
Nemotaulius hostilis
Nemotaulius hostilis (Nemotaulius hostilis) is a species in the family Limnephilidae, commonly known as northern caddisflies, belonging to the order Trichoptera (Caddisflies). It is classified within the subfamily Limnephilinae, tribe Limnephilini, s
Oecetis inconspicua
Oecetis inconspicua
Oecetis inconspicua is very widespread because it is really group of species that look very similar as adults. The larvae are more distinctive. It has been known for quite a few years now but, so far, no one wants to take the time to figure it out.
Phryganea sayi
Phryganea sayi
Identification: Adult: forewing brownish-gray with indistinct longitudinal streaking; black line (broken in middle) runs from near base almost to outer margin; small white spots present at both ends and middle of this line; a shorter black line close
Potamyia flava
Potamyia flava
Identification: The long antennae, the shape of the face, and the pale yellowish color help to distinguish this from the other hydropsychids.
Silver-striped Sedge
Hesperophylax designatus
Identification: Adult: forewing brownish-orange with three thin silvery-white longitudinal stripes: the main stripe is about half the wing's length and situated centrally, just anterior to its midpoint; two smaller black-edged white stripes run paral
Zebra Caddisfly
Macrostemum zebratum
Identification: head and thorax metallic bluish-brown; mouthparts and legs yellow; forewings with highly-contrasting pattern of blackish and yellowish (or light brown) markings
Agapetus ajpetriensis
Agapetus ajpetriensis
Agapetus fuscipes
Agapetus fuscipes
Agapetus iridipennis
Agapetus iridipennis
Agapetus laniger
Agapetus laniger
Agapetus ochripes
Agapetus ochripes
Agarodes crassicornis
Agarodes crassicornis
Agarodes georgia
Agarodes georgia
Agarodes libalis
Agarodes libalis
Agarodes logani
Agarodes logani
Agarodes tetron
Agarodes tetron
Agarodes wallacei
Agarodes wallacei
Agarodes ziczac
Agarodes ziczac
Agraylea sexmaculata
Agraylea sexmaculata
Agrypnia pagetana
Agrypnia pagetana
Anagapetus aisha
Anagapetus aisha
Anisocentropus banghaasi
Anisocentropus banghaasi
Anisocentropus bicoloratus
Anisocentropus bicoloratus
Anisocentropus kawamurai
Anisocentropus kawamurai
Anisocentropus latifascia
Anisocentropus latifascia
Anisocentropus maculatus
Anisocentropus maculatus
Anisocentropus magnificus
Anisocentropus magnificus
Anisocentropus torulus
Anisocentropus torulus
Apatania aberrans
Apatania aberrans
Apatania blacki
Apatania blacki
Apatania crymophila
Apatania crymophila
Apatania dalecarlica
Apatania dalecarlica
Apatania irinae
Apatania irinae
Apatania majuscula
Apatania majuscula
Apatania muliebris
Apatania muliebris
Apatania sorex
Apatania sorex
Apatania stigmatella
Apatania stigmatella
Apatania taiwanensis
Apatania taiwanensis
Apatania vepsica
Apatania vepsica
Apatania zonella
Apatania zonella
Austrotinodes abrachium
Austrotinodes abrachium
Brachycentrus echo
Brachycentrus echo
Brachycentrus fuliginosus
Brachycentrus fuliginosus
Brachycentrus lunatus
Brachycentrus lunatus
Brachycentrus maculatus
Brachycentrus maculatus
Brachycentrus montanus
Brachycentrus montanus
Cernotina truncona
Cernotina truncona
Cheumatopsyche lepida
Cheumatopsyche lepida
Chimarra albomaculata
Chimarra albomaculata
Chimarra argentella
Chimarra argentella
Chimarra australica
Chimarra australica
Chimarra gilvimacula
Chimarra gilvimacula
Chimarra laguna
Chimarra laguna
Chimarra marginata
Chimarra marginata
Chimarra socia
Chimarra socia
Chimarra uranka
Chimarra uranka
Culoptila cantha
Culoptila cantha
Farula constricta
Farula constricta
Glossosoma alascense
Glossosoma alascense
Glossosoma boltoni
Glossosoma boltoni
Glossosoma bruna
Glossosoma bruna
Glossosoma conformis
Glossosoma conformis
Glossosoma idaho
Glossosoma idaho
Glossosoma montanum
Glossosoma montanum
Goera akagiae
Goera akagiae
Goera archaon
Goera archaon
Goera hageni
Goera hageni
Goera japonica
Goera japonica
Goera martynowi
Goera martynowi
Goera ogasawaraensis
Goera ogasawaraensis
Goera stylata
Goera stylata
Goera townesi
Goera townesi
Grammotaulius nigropunctatus
Grammotaulius nigropunctatus
Gumaga nigricula
Gumaga nigricula
Gumaga orientalis
Gumaga orientalis
Helicopsyche albescens
Helicopsyche albescens
Helicopsyche bacescui
Helicopsyche bacescui
Helicopsyche cuvieri
Helicopsyche cuvieri
Helicopsyche haurapango
Helicopsyche haurapango
Helicopsyche helicifex
Helicopsyche helicifex
Helicopsyche howesi
Helicopsyche howesi
Helicopsyche limnella
Helicopsyche limnella
Helicopsyche mexicana
Helicopsyche mexicana
Helicopsyche paralimnella
Helicopsyche paralimnella
Helicopsyche piora
Helicopsyche piora
Helicopsyche piroa
Helicopsyche piroa
Helicopsyche poutini
Helicopsyche poutini
Helicopsyche sinuata
Helicopsyche sinuata
Helicopsyche tillyardi
Helicopsyche tillyardi
Helicopsyche torino
Helicopsyche torino