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Dear Dr. Baumann-

In his book, Caddisflies, Gary LaFontaine listed your name on his acknowledgments page as being one who assisted him by sending scientific papers, providing insect specimens, or identifying his collections. As such, I am hoping you can answer a question for me.

For each genus covered in his book, Gary listed adult length as (up to x mm.), but as far as I can determine, he never specified whether this was only the body length, or also included the distance the wings extended beyond the end of the abdomen. As you realize, it makes a considerable difference, as the wings of caddisflies extend beyond the end of the abdomen (perhaps) another 40-100% of the body length. This is of critical importance to me, as I intend to use that measure as a component of Adult Caddisfly Identification, which would be similar to my Adult Mayfly Identification for flyfishers.

In any event, do you know which measurement Gary used? If not, those listed were Chuck Hawkins, Steve Johnson, Don Alstad, Tim Hansen, Drs. R. L. Blickle, Stamford Smith, William Hilsenhoff, Donald Denning, A. Sheldon, Oliver Flint, George Edmunds, Glenn B. Wiggins, Richard Baumann, George Roemhild, Merlyn Brusven, Robert Newell, Vincent Resh, Russ Biggam, and J. V. Ward. If you think one of the others would know, and happen to have their email address, that would be most helpful, as well.

Roger,

I am quite sure that Gary measured from the top (tip?) of the head to the end of the wings, except when the adults were brachypterous and then the tip of the abdomen would be to terminal end.