Blog & Latest Updates
Fly Fishing Articles
Insects by Common Name

Trout Streams & Rivers
Trout Pictures
Underwater Pictures

Desktop Backgrounds
Stream & Bug Videos
Troutnut's Alaska Blog

Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Taxonomic Navigation -?-

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

» Class Insecta (Insects)

» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)

Family in Trichoptera
ApataniidaeEarly Smoky Wing Sedges	3	16
Arctopsychidae	0	0
BrachycentridaeApple Caddis and Grannoms	9	66
Calamoceratidae	0	0
GlossosomatidaeLittle Black Caddisfly	1	4
Goeridae	0	0
Helicopsychidae	0	1
Hydropsychidae	19	89
HydroptilidaeMicrocaddisflies	1	3
LepidostomatidaeLittle Brown Sedges	6	21
Leptoceridae	8	28
LimnephilidaeNorthern Caddisflies	17	62
Molannidae	1	4
Odontoceridae	2	20
Philopotamidae	6	28
Phryganeidae	2	8
Polycentropodidae	2	6
Psychomyiidae	0	0
RhyacophilidaeGreen Sedges	9	62
Uenoidae	4	49

4 families aren't included.

Common Name

Match	Common Name
	Caddisflies

Pictures Below ↓

This is page 2 of specimens of Trichoptera. Visit the main Trichoptera page for:

The behavior and habitat of Trichoptera.
55 underwater pictures of Trichoptera.
9 streamside pictures of Trichoptera.

Pictures of 92 Caddisfly Specimens:

Specimen Page:123 4...10

Rhyacophila (Green Sedges) Caddisfly Pupa

View 11 PicturesI collected this pupa and several like it from the same stream and on the same day as this larva. I suspect they're the same species. Every pupa I collected was in a brown casing like the one shown in one of the pictures below. I cut this pupa out of its case after a picture so you can see more details. It is close to but not fully developed.

Collected June 5, 2005 from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 25, 2006

Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis) Caddisfly Adult

View 13 PicturesI captured this specimen in the same color as this photograph, during its egg-laying flight. The emergers are much lighter.

Collected May 13, 2007 from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedges) Caddisfly Pupa

View 10 PicturesThis is the first fully formed caddis pupa (technically, a pharate adult (Pharate adult: Caddisflies are considered to be pupae during their transformation from larva into adult. This transformation is complete before they're ready to emerge. The emerging insect we imitate with the "pupa" patterns we tie is technically called a pharate adult. It is a fully-formed adult caddisfly with one extra layer of exoskeleton surrounding it and restricting its wings.)) that I've collected and photographed alive and healthy. I'll put a video of this specimen online soon, too.

Collected April 14, 2007 from Cayuta Creek in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 22, 2007

Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis) Caddisfly Adult

View 5 Pictures

Collected May 7, 2005 from the Beaverkill River in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 16, 2006

Ceratopsyche (Spotted Sedges) Caddisfly Adult

View 18 PicturesThese big caddisflies were tempting trout as they wriggled out of their shucks (

View Full Size

Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.

Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.), while others skated across the water at a medium pace, probably egg-laying.

Collected May 15, 2007 from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Female Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedges) Caddisfly Adult

View 4 Pictures

Collected May 16, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Psilotreta labida (Dark Blue Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

View 9 Pictures

Collected March 30, 2007 from Fall Creek in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 2, 2007

Pycnopsyche (Great Autumn Brown Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

View 12 Pictures

Collected April 1, 2007 from Mystery Creek #62 in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 3, 2007

Rhyacophila brunnea (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

View 4 Pictures

Collected February 7, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Limnephilus (Summer Flier Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

View 4 Pictures

Collected January 14, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Specimen Page:123 4...10

Jargon Defined:

Larva: Many classes of aquatic insects, such as caddisflies, midges, craneflies, dobsonflies, alderflies, and many more, are known as "larvae" rather than "nymphs" in their juvenile stages. They have mostly soft bodies rather than hard exoskeletons. These insects also advance through a "pupa" stage before reaching adulthood.

Pharate adult: Caddisflies are considered to be pupae during their transformation from larva into adult. This transformation is complete before they're ready to emerge. The emerging insect we imitate with the "pupa" patterns we tie is technically called a pharate adult. It is a fully-formed adult caddisfly with one extra layer of exoskeleton surrounding it and restricting its wings.

Pupa: Any insect which spends most of its juvenile lifetime as a larva first becomes a pupa for a time before emerging as a fully grown adult. Depending on the species, the pupal form can be very important for fly fishermen to imitate.

View Full Size

Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.

Shucks: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.

Useful References:

LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.

Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.