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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Caddisflies (Trichoptera) » Integripalpia » Brevitentoria » Sericostomatoidea » Snail-case Caddisflies (Helicopsychidae)

Family Helicopsychidae - Snail-case Caddisflies

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Internet References

Helicopsyche (possibly borealis) - Helicopsyche

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)

Suborder Integripalpia

Infraorder Brevitentoria

Superfamily Sericostomatoidea

Family Helicopsychidae (Snail-case Caddisflies)

Other Common Names

Snailcase Caddisflies, Snail Case Caddisflies, Snail Case-making Caddisflies, Snail-shell Caddisflies

Explanation of Names

Helicopsychidae Ulmer 1906

Numbers

7 species in 1 genus in North America (9 species are listed at nearctica.com but two of those (Helicopsyche annulicornis and arenifera) are synonyms of H. borealis)

1 species (Helicopysche borealis) in Canada

203 described species world-wide in 2 extant genera and 2 extinct genera

Size

adult body 5-7 mm

larval case to 7 mm diameter

Identification

The spiral "snail shell" shape of the larval case is diagnostic (photo) - as is the strongly curved "J" shape of the larva (photo)

Adults are brownish or mottled, similar to adults of some other families of small caddisflies

Range

most of United States and southern Canada, north to Northwest Territories [see Helicopsyche genus page for distribution of species]

also occurs in many warmer regions of the world

Habitat

larvae usually live in fast-flowing streams and rivers, but also shallow areas of lakes, thermal springs, and deep within the streambed; tolerant of various habitats and a range of water temperatures; larvae often found clustered together on rock surfaces

adults usually found near larval habitat; they are nocturnal and attracted to light

Food

larvae scrape diatoms and detritus from underwater surface of substrate

Internet References

"The Helicopyschidae Home Page" includes links to species list, systematics, distribution, photos, description (Swedish Museum of Natural History)

live larva and case images plus description, habitat, and other info (Valley City State U., North Dakota)

larval case image (James Harrington, California Dept. of Fish and Game)

larva and case images of Helicopysche borealis by Cheryl Podemski, plus description and other info (Hugh Clifford, U. of Alberta)

common name reference [Snail-shell Caddisflies] plus photos and overview of Helicopsyche borealis (Wilfred Laurier U., Ontario)

technical description of larva, adult, and genitalia, plus distribution and other info (Government of Canada)

images of larva, case, adult of unidentified Helicopsyche species (South Dakota State U.)

world distribution map (Swedish Museum of Natural History)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 15 May, 2006 - 7:20pm
Additional contributions by v belov
Last updated 22 December, 2014 - 9:03pm

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