Caddisfly Family Hydroptilidae (Microcaddisflies)
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
» Family Hydroptilidae (Microcaddisflies)
| Genus in Hydroptilidae |  |  |
| AgrayleaSalt and Pepper Microcaddisflies | 0 | 0 |
| HydroptilaVaricolored Microcaddisflies | 0 | 0 |
| LeucotrichiaRing Horn Microcaddisflies | 0 | 2 |
| OxyethiraCream and Brown Microcaddisflies | 0 | 0 |
11 genera aren't included.
Common Name
| Match | Common Name |
 | Microcaddisflies |
Like the Tricorythodes mayflies, Microcaddisflies can be important to trout because of their extreme abundance in certian waters.
Hatching Behavior
Pupae emerge on the surface, where they struggle for a long time to break through.Egg-Laying Behavior
Females dive to the bottom to lay their eggs.Larva & Pupa Biology
Diet: Plankton or algae (including filamentous)
Shelter Type: Plant matter, rock, sand, or silk
Hydroptilidae larvae don't build cases until their fifth last instar (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.), although they do speed through the first four instars (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.) in the first two weeks of their lives. In the fifth instar (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.), their abdomens grow proportionally huge and they build flat cases from a variety of materials. Leucotrichia pictipes, for example, builds oval silk cases which at first are not recognizable as caddis cases at all to anyone not familiar with the species.Shelter Type: Plant matter, rock, sand, or silk
2 Underwater Pictures of Hydroptilidae Caddisflies:
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The white blotches on this rock are Leucotrichia caddisfly cases, and the wispy tubes are cases made by a type of midge.
In this picture: Caddisfly Species Leucotrichia pictipes (Ring Horn Microcaddis), Mayfly Species Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur), and True Fly Family Chironomidae (Midges).
In this picture: Caddisfly Species Leucotrichia pictipes (Ring Horn Microcaddis), Mayfly Species Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur), and True Fly Family Chironomidae (Midges).
There's a stonefly nymph in the bottom right corner of this picture, but what's really interesting is those white blotches. They're pretty common in my Wisconsin home river river, stuck flat onto the rocks--lots of rocks have a speckled look as a result. They are microcaddis cases, made by larvae of the caddisfly family Hydroptilidae. These are made by larvae of the subfamily Leucotrichiinae, most likely the genus Leucotrichia. They spin little flat oval cases of silk tight and immobile against the rocks.
In this picture: Caddisfly Species Leucotrichia pictipes (Ring Horn Microcaddis).
In this picture: Caddisfly Species Leucotrichia pictipes (Ring Horn Microcaddis).
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