Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Caddisflies (Trichoptera) » Longhorned Caddisflies (Leptoceridae) » White Millers (Nectopsyche)

Genus Nectopsyche - White Millers

Small Insect - Nectopsyche exquisita speckled pale caddisfly - Nectopsyche Nectopsyche Nectopsyche White Miller - Nectopsyche albida moth - Nectopsyche Moth - Nectopsyche Caddisfly? - Nectopsyche
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
Family Leptoceridae (Longhorned Caddisflies)
Genus Nectopsyche (White Millers)
Other Common Names
the common name White Miller is used for several species of Nectopsyche as well as the genus in general
Numbers
16 species in North America listed at NatureServe Explorer, including a new species (N. waccamawensis) described by Glover and Floyd in 2004
nearctica.com lists 14 species
Size
body length 9-17 mm
Identification
Adult: body long and slender; antennae banded black and white, much longer than body; forewings whitish with variably faint to distinct bands and/or spots; wings held closely over/around abdomen when at rest
Range
all of United States and southern Canada
Habitat
larvae living in standing or slow-moving water that has a sandy bottom and aquatic vegetation
adults may be found resting near the larval habitat during the day, but are nocturnal and attracted to light
Season
adults present spring to fall
Remarks
larvae of most species construct portable elongate tapering cases of sand grains and plant parts, which in some cases are species specific; larvae of some species possess a swimming brush on the metathoracic legs which, when combined with a buoyant case, enables them to swim
[text by James Haddock, Purdue U.]
Internet References
live adult image of male N. exquisita by Bill Stark, Mississippi College (courtesy Clemson U., South Carolina)
live adult images of N. exquisita and N. candida taken from this page (Brent Steury, Virginia)
live adult image of undetermined Nectopsyche species (Thomas Ames, New Hampshire)
a new species (N. waccamawensis) [abstract only] from North Carolina described in 2004 (James Glover and Michael Floyd, Journal of the North American Benthological Society)
illustrated key to genera and species of caddisfly larvae; PDF doc occurring in Florida (Manuel Pescador et al, Florida A&M U.)
distribution list of states and provinces of all 16 described North American species (NatureServe Explorer)
common name reference of White Miller for 2 species plus the genus in general (Pat Donoghue, Canada)
description and habitat (James Haddock, Purdue U., Indiana)
presence in Saskatchewan; list (Trichoptera of Candle Lake, U. of Saskatchewan)
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 22 May, 2006 - 10:30pm
Last updated 23 May, 2006 - 12:02am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.