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Index of Bugs
Caddisflies are classified in the order Trichoptera, which means “hairy wings.” They are closely related to butterflies and moths, which have scales on their wings.
Caddisfly larvae look like caterpillars. Many caddisfly larvae build cases to live in that protect them from predators such as fish. The cases are usually camouflaged to look like part of the environment in which the larva lives. Some cases are portable. The larva moves around by sticking its front legs out of the case and carrying the case along. Other species attach cases made from pebbles or sand grains to rocks in running streams.
Caddisfly larvae eat many kinds of food, such as algae attached to rocks under water, pieces of leaves, rotting wood, and animal materials. The larvae generally do not tolerate pollution. This means that if there are many caddisfly larvae in a stream, the water is unpolluted. If there are no caddisfly larvae in a stream, it may mean that the water is polluted.
Caddisflies are also called sedges. The adults live near lakes and rivers. Caddisflies go through complete metamorphosis. That means they go through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.
The larvae enlarge the casings from time to time as they grow, and then finally seal themselves into the casing to become pupae. The pupa stage of a caddisfly’s life lasts less than a month. Then the pupa breaks the seal of its casing and crawls out. It swims to the surface and hatches into an adult.
To learn more about caddisflies and to see them in action, order the Backyard Bugs DVD.
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