Integripalpia

Adults distinguished from other Trichoptera suborders by the unringed (undivided, lacking annulations) terminal segment of the maxillary palp. Larvae identified by their portable cases constructed from debris—unlike fixed retreats or silk galleries found in some other caddisfly groups. Case morphology often provides family- and genus-level diagnostic characters.

Aquatic environments including streams, rivers, and standing waters. Documented from Atlantic Forest streams in Brazil, high-altitude grasslands, and Dense Ombrophilous Forest. Larvae are aquatic; adults are terrestrial but remain near water bodies.

Global distribution with documented records from Brazil (Espírito Santo State, Minas Gerais State, Serra do Caparaó), Southeast Asia, and other regions. Specific distribution varies by included family and genus.

• Contracaecum rudolphii - intermediate hostLaboratory studies indicate Integripalpia larvae may serve as intermediate hosts for this nematode parasite, with high infection prevalence and low larval mortality

Larvae construct portable debris cases beginning in the first instar, enlarging them through subsequent instars. Case construction represents a distinctive developmental trait of the suborder. Complete metamorphosis with aquatic larval and terrestrial adult stages.

Larvae exhibit case-building behavior using collected debris; case architecture is often highly specific and characteristic at family and genus level.

Aquatic macroinvertebrate component of freshwater ecosystems. Larvae serve as major reservoirs and potential intermediate hosts for nematode parasites including Contracaecum rudolphii in aquatic habitats. Used as biodiversity indicators for caddisfly fauna assessments.

• AnnulipalpiaOther major suborder of Trichoptera; distinguished by ringed (annulated) terminal segment of maxillary palp in adults, and larvae typically constructing fixed retreats or silk feeding galleries rather than portable debris cases
• SpicipalpiaThird Trichoptera suborder; larvae often free-living or with reduced case construction, and adults with distinctive morphological features not shared with Integripalpia

• Trichoptera
• caddisfly
• aquatic insect
• case-building
• maxillary palp
• freshwater
• macroinvertebrate
• Brazil
• Atlantic Forest
• nematode intermediate host

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Brevitentoria Weaver 1984 (Trichoptera: Integripalpia) of Espírito Santo State, Brazil: New records and new species
• Leptoceroidea (Insecta: Trichoptera: Integripalpia) from Serra do Caparaó, Southeast Brazil, including a new species of Atanatolica Mosely (Leptoceridae)
• In vitro infection experiments with eggs of the nematode Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964 (sensu lato) targeting aquatic insect larvae (Odonata: Coenagrionidae and Libellulidae; Trichoptera: Integripalpia) as possible intermediate hosts
• Ecology, case structure, larval morphology and chromosomes of the caddis-fly, allogamus auricollis (Pictet, 1834), with a discussion on the variation of recombination indices in the stenophylacini (Trichoptera, Integripalpia: Limnephilidae)
• Phylogenetic Analysis of the Family Lepidostomatidae (Trichoptera: Integripalpia) Using Whole Mitochondrial Genomes.
• Mitogenomics Provide New Phylogenetic Insights of the Family Apataniidae (Trichoptera: Integripalpia).