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Caddisfly Genus Glossosoma (Little Black Short-Horned Sedges)

Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
» Family Glossosomatidae (Little Black Caddisfly)
» Genus Glossosoma (Little Black Short-Horned Sedges)
Species in GlossosomaNumber of SpecimensNumber of Pictures
Glossosoma alascenseLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma calificaLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma intermediumLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma lividumLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma montanaLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma nigriorLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma penitumLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma traviatumLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00
Glossosoma velonaLittle Black Short-Horned Sedge00

13 species aren't included.
Common Names
The sporadic emergence of these caddisflies diminishes the importance of the adults and pupae, but they have a unique period of vulnerability as larvae which can make them very important.

Hatching Behavior

The pupae emerge on the surface, or by rising to surface and then swimming across the surface to shore.

Egg-Laying Behavior

Females dive underwater to oviposit.

Larva & Pupa Biology

Current Speed: Fast, for most species
Shelter Type: Rocks, shaped kind of like a turtle shell
Because Glossosoma cases are built to a fixed size, the larvae have to abandon them and build new ones as they grow. In the process they may accidentally or deliberately end up drifting downstream for a while. They synchronize this activity as tightly as most species synchronize emergence, prompting trout to feed selectively on the larvae.

This usually happens several times during their development in the spring and summer, and in Caddisflies LaFontaine recommends imitating the pinkish-colored larvae drifting without their cases.

2 Underwater Pictures of Glossosoma Caddisflies:

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Three big Ephemerella subvaria mayfly nymphs share a rock with some cased caddis larvae.
Three big Ephemerella subvaria mayfly nymphs share a rock with some cased caddis larvae.

In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Glossosoma (Little Black Short-Horned Sedges) and Mayfly Species Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson).
RegionUpper Midwest
Date TakenMar 20, 2004
Date AddedJan 25, 2006
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RegionCatskills
Date TakenSep 20, 2006
Date AddedOct 4, 2006

Recent Discussions of Glossosoma

pupa color 7 Replies »
Posted by LittleJ on Apr 19, 2008
Last reply on Apr 22, 2008 by LittleJ
I was thinking very dark olive w/a ginger shuck. Sound right to any of you?
thanks
jeff
Reply

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