What is the caddisfly?
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Trichoptera
Suborder: Amphiesmenoptera
Scientific Name: Caddisfly
Also called sedge or rail flies and commonly found with mayflies and stoneflies. These insects in their larval stage (encompassed by cocoon) are often referred to as periwinkles, which are actually molluscs from the class Gastropoda. The order Trichoptera is derived from the Greek word thrix (hair) and pteron (wing). There are over 7000 described species of the caddisfly.
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A caddisfly is a small insect that looks similar to a moth with hair like antennae typically no longer than 1/4". These insects are herbivorous scavengers that feed off of plant material and living and dead organisms. However the caddisfly is very adaptive and during seasonal changes may alter their feeding strategies. The caddisfly can tolerate low oxygen conditions although is generally found in steams, lakes and ponds of both warm and cool nature. Again these species are so adaptive that each individual species will adapt to water temperature, speeds, mineral concentration and pollution levels, making almost anyplace home. Caddisflies are terrestrial, meaning they live on land, however during the larval stage caddisflies are aquatic.
The larvae of the caddisfly are distinguished by claws on their thoracic legs and their prolegs and are considered instars, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. This stage is generally where we see dormant or semi-dormant habits such as slowed growth. Generally this is understood as the caddisfly hibernating, although this occurs in the egg stage as well. During the last larval stage the caddisfly will do most of it's feeding in preparation to pupate. It is during this last stage that the larvae produce a pupal case which has been the work of Hubert Duprat.
Caddisflies developing into the pupal stage become stiff and short and loose their flexibility in what is called the perpupal resting stage. All of this occurs under water and can take any variation of time depending on temperature, light, altitude and the nutrient availability, typically around 2-3 weeks. After this stage the now adult emerges from the sheath by using mandibles to chew it's way out and make its way to the surface. It is during this stage and the larval stage that the caddisfly creates silk which it uses for protection (sheath/cocoon) or to trap small organisms for food.
Adult caddisflies generally have a lifespan between a few weeks and several months and are nocturnal. After emerging from the water the adult caddisfly is ready to mate and will do so mid flight or stationary. During the mating process male caddisflies may use pheromones unlike other species that will swarm with other males in order to attract a female. The actual connection during mating can take a few minutes or several hours and the males sperm is directly secreted into the females reproductive organs. An interesting fact is that the female caddisfly can hold her breath for up to 30 minutes to lay her eggs under the water. She does this by using oxygen that is trapped in the tiny hairs on her body.
The larvae of the caddisfly are distinguished by claws on their thoracic legs and their prolegs and are considered instars, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. This stage is generally where we see dormant or semi-dormant habits such as slowed growth. Generally this is understood as the caddisfly hibernating, although this occurs in the egg stage as well. During the last larval stage the caddisfly will do most of it's feeding in preparation to pupate. It is during this last stage that the larvae produce a pupal case which has been the work of Hubert Duprat.
Caddisflies developing into the pupal stage become stiff and short and loose their flexibility in what is called the perpupal resting stage. All of this occurs under water and can take any variation of time depending on temperature, light, altitude and the nutrient availability, typically around 2-3 weeks. After this stage the now adult emerges from the sheath by using mandibles to chew it's way out and make its way to the surface. It is during this stage and the larval stage that the caddisfly creates silk which it uses for protection (sheath/cocoon) or to trap small organisms for food.
Adult caddisflies generally have a lifespan between a few weeks and several months and are nocturnal. After emerging from the water the adult caddisfly is ready to mate and will do so mid flight or stationary. During the mating process male caddisflies may use pheromones unlike other species that will swarm with other males in order to attract a female. The actual connection during mating can take a few minutes or several hours and the males sperm is directly secreted into the females reproductive organs. An interesting fact is that the female caddisfly can hold her breath for up to 30 minutes to lay her eggs under the water. She does this by using oxygen that is trapped in the tiny hairs on her body.