Hydropsychidae
Guides
Cheumatopsyche analis
Cheumatopsyche analis is a species of netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. It belongs to a genus known for constructing fixed capture nets in flowing water to filter food particles. The species has been documented in the Nearctic region, including Hawaii. As a member of the Hydropsychidae, it participates in freshwater food webs as both a filter-feeder larva and a flying adult.
Cheumatopsyche ela
Cheumatopsyche ela is a species of net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, first described by Denning in 1942. The species occurs in North America and is part of a genus known for constructing silk capture nets in flowing water habitats. Larvae exhibit density-dependent dispersion patterns in laboratory settings, with aggressive behavior and cannibalism observed at high population densities. As with other hydropsychids, adults are short-lived and primarily focused on reproduction.
Cheumatopsyche minuscula
Cheumatopsyche minuscula is a species of net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. The species was originally described as Hydropsyche minuscula by Banks in 1907. It is recorded from North America within the Nearctic realm. As a member of Hydropsychidae, it is presumed to construct fixed capture nets in flowing water habitats to filter food particles.
Diplectrona
diplectronan caddisflies
Diplectrona is a genus of net-spinning caddisflies in the family Hydropsychidae, containing over 100 described species distributed across multiple continents. The genus exhibits considerable morphological diversity in both larvae and adults, with larvae inhabiting various lotic freshwater habitats. Recent studies have revealed cryptic diversity within currently recognized species, particularly in North America, suggesting the genus requires taxonomic revision. Species occur in Asia, Europe, North America, and other regions, with new country records continuing to be documented.
Diplectrona modesta
Diplectrona modesta is a species of netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, first described by Banks in 1908. It is native to North America, with documented occurrences in the Nearctic region including Vermont. The species has been studied for its life history and production dynamics in freshwater stream habitats, particularly in Walker Branch, Tennessee.
Homoplectra
homoplectran caddisflies
Homoplectra is a genus of netspinning caddisflies in the family Hydropsychidae, established by Ross in 1938. The genus comprises approximately 11 described species distributed in North America and Japan. As members of Hydropsychidae, larvae construct fixed capture nets to filter food from flowing water. The genus includes the recently described species H. gracilis from Japanese headwater streams.
Hydropsyche
Spotted Sedges
Hydropsyche is a large genus of netspinning caddisflies comprising at least 260 described species worldwide. Larvae construct fixed capture nets across flowing water to filter food particles, a behavior that defines the family Hydropsychidae. The genus exhibits substantial diversity in the Aegean region and Mediterranean, with numerous endemic species on Greek islands. Both larvae and adults have been extensively studied for their morphological characteristics, respiratory physiology, and responses to aquatic hypoxia.
Hydropsyche betteni
Common Netspinner
Hydropsyche betteni is a species of netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, described by Ross in 1938. It is one of the most widespread and commonly encountered members of its genus in North America. Like other hydropsychids, the larvae construct fixed capture nets to filter food from flowing water. The species is well-documented in freshwater biomonitoring studies due to its abundance and sensitivity to water quality.
Hydropsyche bifida
Hydropsyche bifida is a caddisfly species described by Banks in 1905, currently treated as a synonym of Ceratopsyche morosa. It belongs to the family Hydropsychidae, a group of net-spinning caddisflies whose larvae construct capture nets in flowing water to filter food particles. The species has been recorded from North America, specifically from Vermont in the United States.
Hydropsyche bronta
A net-spinning caddisfly species in the family Hydropsychidae. In summer-warm rivers of southern Ontario, populations exhibit trivoltine life cycles, completing three generations per year. Smaller than the sympatric H. morosa and overwinters in slightly older larval instars.
Hydropsyche morosa
A net-spinning caddisfly species found in summer-warm rivers of southern Ontario. Has been observed to be bivoltine in lower river reaches where summer water temperatures exceed 24°C for extended periods. Larger-bodied than the sympatric Hydropsyche bronta, with which it shares habitat in the Credit and Humber river systems.
Hydropsyche scalaris
Hydropsyche scalaris is a species of net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, first described by Hagen in 1861. It belongs to one of the largest genera of caddisflies, with larvae that construct fixed retreats and capture nets in flowing water to filter food particles. The species is documented from North America within the Nearctic region.
Hydropsyche slossonae
Hydropsyche slossonae is a caddisfly species in the family Hydropsychidae, known from freshwater lotic habitats in eastern and midwestern North America. The species is univoltine, with adults 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 sparna
Hydropsyche sparna is a species of net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. It has been studied primarily for its behavioral responses to suspended particles and deposited bedload sediment in flowing water environments. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Ceratopsyche sparna in some taxonomic databases. Research on this species has contributed to understanding how filter-feeding aquatic insects modify their foraging behaviors in response to changing environmental conditions.
Hydropsyche walkeri
Hydropsyche walkeri is a species of net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. Originally described by Betten and Mosely in 1940, it is currently treated as a synonym of Ceratopsyche walkeri. The species belongs to a diverse genus of aquatic insects whose larvae construct elaborate silk nets to capture food in flowing water. Like other hydropsychids, it is associated with freshwater lotic habitats.
Macrostemum
Glossy Wing Sedges
Macrostemum is a cosmopolitan genus of net-spinning caddisflies in the family Hydropsychidae, comprising at least 90 described species. Adults are recognized by distinctive dark and light contrasting wing patterns. Larvae construct silken retreats with capture nets to filter fine particulate organic matter from flowing water. The genus is particularly diverse in the Neotropical region, with species documented across Africa, Asia, Madagascar, and the Americas.
Macrostemum zebratum
Zebra Caddisfly
Macrostemum zebratum, commonly known as the zebra caddisfly, is a species of netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. It is a medium to large caddisfly recognized by its distinctive patterned wings. As a member of the Hydropsychidae, it constructs silk capture nets in flowing water to filter food particles.
Parapsyche apicalis
Parapsyche apicalis is a species of net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, originally described as Arctopsyche apicalis by Banks in 1908. The species belongs to the subfamily Arctopsychinae and is found in North America. As a member of Hydropsychidae, larvae construct fixed retreats and capture nets to filter food particles from flowing water.
Parapsyche elsis
Parapsyche elsis is a netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, first described by Milne in 1936. It is one of five western North American species in the genus Parapsyche. The species has been documented through adult females, pupae, and larvae, with morphological descriptions and identification keys available in taxonomic literature.
Potamyia
netspinning caddisflies
Potamyia is a genus of netspinning caddisflies in the family Hydropsychidae, containing more than 20 described species. Larvae are aquatic and inhabit streams, with five instars characterized by progressive increases in head capsule width. They are omnivorous filter-feeders that consume diatoms, green algae, filamentous algae, detritus, and arthropod fragments. The genus is distributed across Asia, with documented species in Thailand, China, and other regions.
Smicridea dispar
Smicridea dispar is a species of netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae, originally described by Banks in 1905 as Polycentropus dispar. It belongs to the order Trichoptera, an aquatic insect order whose larvae are commonly known as caddisflies. The species is documented from North America. As a member of Hydropsychidae, its larvae likely construct fixed retreats with capture nets in flowing water, though specific behavioral details for this species remain limited.
Smicridea signata
netspinning caddisfly
Smicridea signata is a species of netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. The species is found in North America and belongs to the Smicridea (Smicridea) fasciatella species group, which is characterized by a phallic apparatus that is a simple tube with eversible internal sclerites at the apex. The fasciatella group has a broad distribution from the southwestern USA through Central America, the Greater Antilles, and most of South America.