Other Common Names
Orange Caddis Worm (larva)
Numbers
22 species in North America (
nearctica.com)
Identification
Adult: head, antennae, body, and legs usually blackish; front wings uniformly dark brown to black; some species have sides of abdomen creamy white
Larva: head dark orange; body and legs medium orange (preserved specimens fade to pale yellow or white); labrum T-shaped; dorsal anterior margin of head has asymmetrical notch
Habitat
larvae in fast-flowing portions of rivers and streams; adults on nearby vegetation, and are attracted to artificial light
Food
larvae are filter-feeders, eating small particles of plant and animal matter plus algae such as diatoms that become trapped in the meshes of their nets
Remarks
Larvae spin very fine-meshed nets, usually grouped together on the undersides of rocks near the upstream edge. The nets collapse when the rocks they are attached to are removed from the water.
Guide page creation based on David Funk's identification of
this image to genus level.
See Also
Adults of
Brachycentrus (Brachycentridae) are also blackish but the outer margin of the front wing is elongate and more pointed, and the wing veins are more distinct/visible (see images of adults [called Grannoms by anglers]
here and
here).
Larvae are distinguished from other genera of Philopotamidae by the asymmetrical notch in the dorsal anterior margin of the head.
Internet References
larva images plus desription, biology, and common name references (Wilfred Laurier U., Ontario)
key to genera of adults, pupae, larvae of Philopotamidae (Ethan Bright, U. of Michigan)
systematics and distribution (Roger Blahnik, U. of Minnesota)
systematics; PDF doc plus description and technical drawings of Australian species (David Cartwright, Museum Victoria, Govt. of Australia)
