Why is the caddisfly important to us?
Ecosystem Survival - The caddisfly is important for many reasons one of the most important is the natural ecosystem. In the ecosystem they play a major role as a food source for both fish and bird species native to water. Insects, including the caddisfly, keep the ecosystem in tact and are especially important to providing food to the sources we as human beings use as food.
Water Quality - A branch off of ecosystems is aquatic ecosystems. Water quality can be partially determined by the species in which inhabit a specific body or area of water. When insects such as the caddisfly are present or other macroinvertebrates one can assume a high quality of water is present. Since caddisfly are herbivorous their presence means there is enough oxygen in the water and enough nutrients to sustain life. This not only means a source for nutrients for the caddisfly but for the whole ecosystem.
Water Pollution - Waters that are polluted to a fair to moderate degree are turbid (unclear, murky) which inhibits sunlight to penetrate further into the water. Without sunlight plant species can't survive or their growth is slowed and is less supportive of life. Again without this food sources the caddisfly will not flourish and its life cannot be maintained. Therefore to many degrees the presence of caddisflies and other macroinvertebrates can be helpful in determining the quality of water.
Water Pollution - Waters that are polluted to a fair to moderate degree are turbid (unclear, murky) which inhibits sunlight to penetrate further into the water. Without sunlight plant species can't survive or their growth is slowed and is less supportive of life. Again without this food sources the caddisfly will not flourish and its life cannot be maintained. Therefore to many degrees the presence of caddisflies and other macroinvertebrates can be helpful in determining the quality of water.