# Caddisflies (*Trichoptera*)

Caddisflies are insects of the order Trichoptera. Their moth-like adults usually have hairy wings, while most larvae live in freshwater. Larvae include case builders, net spinners and free-living forms.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Most larvae live in freshwater streams, rivers, ponds or lakes; adults are often found in nearby waterside vegetation.

![Caddisflies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lepidostoma.hirtum.jpg&width=800)

Photo: James K. Lindsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lepidostoma.hirtum.jpg)

## Appearance

Adults typically have long antennae and hairy wings held roof-like over the body. Larvae look very different; some carry cases made with silk and natural materials, while others do not carry a case.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Trichoptera

## Interesting facts

- Caddisflies develop through egg, larva, pupa and adult stages.
- Larval silk can be used to construct cases, nets or shelters.
- Some larvae eat algae or decaying material; others capture small aquatic animals.

## Diet & Feeding

Diets vary. Some graze on algae or eat decaying leaves and other organic material; others filter particles from the current or prey on small aquatic animals.

- **Age differences:** Many feed little or not at all during their brief adult lives. Some can drink water or nectar through their reduced mouthparts.

## Traits

- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash your hands after playing near water to stay clean and safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are caddisflies?

Caddisflies are insects in the order Trichoptera. The moth-like adults and the mostly aquatic larvae are different stages of the same life cycle.

### How can you recognise an adult caddisfly?

Most have long, threadlike antennae and hairy wings held like a tent over the body at rest. They often look like small, brown or grey moths.

### Where do caddisfly larvae live?

Most live in freshwater, including streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. Different species occupy flowing water, still water or temporary pools.

### Do all caddisfly larvae carry portable cases?

No. Many build cases from silk, sand, stones or plant fragments. Others spin fixed nets or retreats, and some live without a portable case.

### What do caddisfly larvae eat?

Diets vary. Some graze on algae or eat decaying leaves and other organic material; others filter particles from the current or prey on small aquatic animals.

### Do adult caddisflies eat?

Many feed little or not at all during their brief adult lives. Some can drink water or nectar through their reduced mouthparts.

### How do caddisflies become winged adults?

They pass through egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. After growing as larvae, they pupate, usually in water, before the winged adults emerge.

### What can caddisflies tell us about water quality?

Their community helps scientists assess stream conditions, but sensitivity varies among groups. Finding a caddisfly alone does not prove that the water is unpolluted.

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Caddisflies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/caddisflies)