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Family Limnephilidae - Northern Caddisflies

Representative Images

Genus Hydatophylax - Hydatophylax argus Caddisfly larva - Pycnopsyche guttifera Limnephilid - Onocosmoecus Limnephilidae? - Psychoglypha Caddisfly - Limnephilus externus - male Snow Sedge Caddisfly? - Psychoglypha Ventral Trichoptera maybe it Hydatophylax argus - Hydatophylax argus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
Suborder Integripalpia
Infraorder Plenitentoria
Superfamily Limnephiloidea
Family Limnephilidae (Northern Caddisflies)

Explanation of Names

Limnephilidae Kolenati 1848
Greek limne 'pool, marsh' + philos 'loving' (a reference to the larval habitat)

Numbers

>300 spp. in ca. 50 genera in our area(1), 44 spp. in 17 genera in MI(2)

Size

adult body 7-23 mm

Identification

adult: ocelli present; maxillary palpi 3-segmented in males, 5-segmented in females; wings usually brown with mottling or stripes; antennae usually as short as or shorter than wings
larvae: antennae located midway between the bases of the mandibles and the eyes; first abdominal tergite is humped
larval cases vary widely in appearance and may be constructed of leaves, stems, moss, bark, sand, or pieces of snail shells
(adapted from(3))

Range

n. US and Canada

Habitat

larvae live in slow-moving streams, ponds, and marshes
adults rest on vegetation near these habitats during the day, and fly at night (may be attracted to lights)

Season

adults fly from May to October/November

Internet References

(4)