Trichoptera
Sign in to saveThe caddisflies (order Trichoptera) are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most of which can be divided into the suborders Integripalpia and Annulipalpia on the basis of the adult mouthparts. Integripalpian larvae construct a portable casing to protect themselves as they move around looking for food, while annulipalpian larvae make themselves a fixed retreat in which they remain, waiting for food to come to them. The affinities of the small third suborder Spicipalpia are unclear, and molecular analysis suggests it ma
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Trichoptera, commonly known as caddisflies, are insects whose larvae live in water and adults live on land, with approximately 14,500 described species found worldwide. They matter because their aquatic larvae are important indicators of water quality and serve as food sources for fish and other wildlife, while their diverse behaviors—such as building portable cases or fixed retreats—make them valuable subjects for studying ecological adaptation.
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Article
22 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Evolution and phylogeny
- Fossil history
- Evolution
- Phylogeny
- Distribution
- Ecology
- Underwater structures
- Cases
- Fixed retreats
- Silk domes
- Nets
- Development and morphology
- Relationship with humans
- In angling
- As bioindicators
- In art
- As food
- Taxonomy
- References
- Further reading
- External links
The caddisflies (order Trichoptera) are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most of which can be divided into the suborders Integripalpia and Annulipalpia on the basis of the adult mouthparts. Integripalpian larvae construct a portable casing to protect themselves as they move around looking for food, while annulipalpian larvae make themselves a fixed retreat in which they remain, waiting for food to come to them. The affinities of the small third suborder Spicipalpia are unclear, and molecular analysis suggests it may not be monophyletic. Also called sedge-flies or rail-flies, the adults are small moth-like insects with two pairs of hairy membranous wings. They are closely related to the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) which have scales on their wings; the two orders together form the superorder Amphiesmenoptera.
The aquatic larvae are found in a wide variety of habitats such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, spring seeps and temporary waters (vernal pools), and even the ocean. The larvae of many species use silk to make protective cases, which are often strengthened with gravel, sand, twigs, bitten-off pieces of plants, or other debris. The larvae exhibit various feeding strategies, with different species being predators, leaf shredders, algal grazers, or collectors of particles from the water column and benthos. Most adults have short lives during which they do not feed.