Hydropsyche slossonae

Banks, 1905

Hydropsyche slossonae is a caddisfly in the Hydropsychidae, known from freshwater lotic in eastern and midwestern North America. The species is , with emerging synchronously from late May through early July. Larvae construct silk capture nets to filter suspended organic matter from flowing water and overwinter as fifth-instar larvae.

Hydropsyche slossonae larva by Stroud Water Research Center. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Hydropsyche bronta larva by Stroud Water Research Center. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hydropsyche slossonae: /haɪˈdrɒpsɪki slɒˈsoʊsəˌni/

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Images

Habitat

Flowing freshwater streams, including spring-fed streams and creeks. Larvae construct silk capture nets on substrates in current.

Distribution

North America; documented from Minnesota (spring-fed streams), Virginia (Mill Creek), and broader eastern/midwestern United States.

Seasonality

emerge from late May through early July, with peak in mid-June. Larvae present year-round.

Diet

Suspended organic matter; larvae are filter-feeders that capture particles using silk nets.

Life Cycle

(one per year). Synchronous pattern. Larvae present year-round with growth primarily during summer months. Overwinters as fifth-instar larvae.

Behavior

Larvae construct silk capture nets for filter-feeding. Net-spinning is sensitive to , making the useful as a bioindicator.

Ecological Role

Filter-feeder in lotic ; bioindicator for detecting in freshwater environments.

Human Relevance

Used in ecotoxicological studies as an early warning indicator for ; behavioral changes in net-spinning serve as sensitive biomarkers.

Similar Taxa

Hydropsyche riolaSympatric congeneric with overlapping distribution and use in midwestern streams; distinguished by differences in timing and details.
Cheumatopsyche pettitiCo-occurring hydropsychid with similar net-spinning larval ; differs in -level classification and specific parameters.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Listed as a synonym of Ceratopsyche slossonae in some sources (GBIF, Catalogue of Life), though widely referenced under Hydropsyche slossonae in ecological literature.

Research Significance

One of few hydropsychid with detailed data from multiple study sites, enabling comparative analysis of regional variation in voltinism and growth patterns.