Case-building-larvae
Guides
Apataniidae
Early Smoky Wing Sedges
Apataniidae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) commonly known as early smoky wing sedges. The family contains approximately 18 genera and at least 180 described species. Members are primarily Holarctic in distribution, with notable diversity in Europe, Asia, and North America. Larvae are aquatic and construct portable cases from mineral particles.
Ceraclea
long-horned caddisfly
Ceraclea is a genus of long-horned caddisflies (family Leptoceridae) containing over 140 described species. Larvae are aquatic and construct portable cases using silk and various materials. Multiple species have been documented as freshwater sponge specialists, though feeding habits vary including detritivory. Life cycles range from univoltine to more complex multi-cohort patterns with variable overwintering strategies.
Elophila obliteralis
Waterlily Leafcutter Moth
Elophila obliteralis is a small aquatic moth native to eastern North America, with introduced populations in Hawaii, South Africa, and England. Adults have a wingspan of 10–22 mm and are active from May to August. The larvae are aquatic, feeding on diverse aquatic plants and constructing protective cases from cut leaf pieces held together with silk. The species has been investigated as a biological control agent for invasive aquatic plants including Nymphoides peltata and Hygrophila polysperma.
Heteroplectron
Heteroplectron is a genus of caddisflies in the family Calamoceratidae, established by McLachlan in 1871. The genus contains at least three described species: Heteroplectron americanum (eastern North America), Heteroplectron californicum (western North America), and Heteroplectron yamaguchii (East Asia). As members of the Calamoceratidae, species in this genus construct distinctive larval cases.
Mimallonidae
Sack-bearer Moths, Mimallonids
Mimallonidae is a family of approximately 300-320 species in 43-44 genera, constituting the sole family of the superfamily Mimallonoidea. These moths are endemic to the New World, with the vast majority occurring in the Neotropics and only five species known from the United States. Adults are externally similar to moths in the superfamilies Bombycoidea and Drepanoidea, a resemblance that historically caused taxonomic confusion. The family has been reorganized based on molecular phylogenetics, now recognizing seven subfamilies.
Neophylax mitchelli
Neophylax mitchelli is a North American caddisfly species in the family Uenoidae. Like other members of its genus, it has aquatic larvae that construct protective cases from silk and environmental materials. The species was described by Carpenter in 1933.
Uenoidae
Stonecase Caddisflies
Uenoidae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) commonly known as stonecase caddisflies. The family comprises approximately 7 genera and at least 80 described species, distributed across North America, Asia, and Europe. Larvae construct portable cases using mineral materials, hence the common name. The family was revised taxonomically in 1988 to include the subfamilies Uenoinae and Thremmatinae, incorporating genera formerly placed in separate families. Studies of Neophylax species demonstrate univoltine life cycles with temporal segregation between co-occurring species.