Caddisfly — printable fact sheet

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Caddisfly

Trichoptera spp.

Caddisflies are small, moth-like insects found near freshwater habitats worldwide. Their aquatic larvae are well known for building protective cases out of sand, plant material, and other debris, which they carry around as they feed and grow. Adult caddisflies typically have hai…

Classification

Invertebrate

Family

Various (e.g., Limnephilidae, Hydropsychidae, Leptoceridae)

Habitat

Freshwater streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes

Diet

Omnivore

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

1-2 years (including larval stage); adults live 1-2 weeks

Weight

10-50 mg

Scientific name

Trichoptera spp.

Did you know?

Adult caddisflies are weak fliers and are often mistaken for small moths, but they are more closely related to butterflies.
Caddisfly larvae are famous for using silk to glue together tiny objects to build their portable cases. Some jewelers use live caddisfly larvae to create unique pieces of jewelry by providing them with gold and precious stones for case-building.

What I learned

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