Microcaddisfly
Guides
Dibusa
microcaddisfly
Dibusa is a genus of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae, established by Ross in 1939. The genus is monotypic, containing a single described species, Dibusa angata. This species exhibits a highly specialized ecological relationship, being obligately associated with the freshwater red alga Lemanea australis throughout its larval development. The genus represents a narrow example of host-specific adaptation within the diverse microcaddisfly fauna.
Hydroptila arctia
Hydroptila arctia is a species of microcaddisfly in the family Hydroptilidae, first described by Ross in 1938. It belongs to the diverse genus Hydroptila, which comprises numerous small caddisfly species found across various aquatic habitats. The species is known from North America and has been recorded in both Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
Hydroptila armata
Hydroptila armata is a species of microcaddisfly in the family Hydroptilidae, described by Ross in 1938. As a member of the order Trichoptera, it is one of many small caddisfly species commonly referred to as microcaddisflies due to their diminutive size relative to other caddisfly families. The species is known from North America, with its type locality in the United States.
Hydroptila callia
microcaddisfly
Hydroptila callia is a species of microcaddisfly described by Denning in 1948. It belongs to the family Hydroptilidae, the smallest caddisflies, characterized by reduced wing venation and distinctive larval cases. The species is known from North America, with its type locality in the United States. Like other hydroptilids, adults are minute insects typically associated with freshwater habitats.
Hydroptila grandiosa
microcaddisfly
Hydroptila grandiosa is a species of microcaddisfly in the family Hydroptilidae, described by Ross in 1938. As a member of the order Trichoptera, it belongs to a group of aquatic insects closely related to moths and butterflies. The species is recorded from North America. Microcaddisflies in this genus are generally small-bodied and associated with freshwater habitats.
Hydroptila icona
Hydroptila icona is a species of microcaddisfly described by Mosely in 1937. It belongs to the family Hydroptilidae, commonly known as microcaddisflies due to their small size. The species is known from Central America and surrounding regions. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with freshwater habitats. Specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Hydroptila rono
microcaddisfly
Hydroptila rono is a species of microcaddisfly (family Hydroptilidae) described by Ross in 1941. As a member of the order Trichoptera, it is an aquatic insect with larvae that develop in freshwater habitats. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its ecology and biology remain limited in available literature.
Hydroptiloidea
microcaddisflies, purse-case caddisflies
Hydroptiloidea is a superfamily of caddisflies (Trichoptera) containing the family Hydroptilidae. Members are distinguished by their minute size, rarely exceeding 5 mm, and the distinctive purse-shaped larval cases constructed only in the final instar. The group has a worldwide distribution and represents one of the most species-rich lineages within Trichoptera.
Ithytrichia
Ithytrichia is a genus of microcaddisflies (family Hydroptilidae) established by Eaton in 1873. The genus contains at least two described species, I. aquila and I. bosniaca. Members of this genus are found in Europe and the Americas, with distribution records from Colombia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Like other Hydroptilidae, these are small caddisflies with reduced wing venation.
Leucotrichiinae
Leucotrichiinae is a subfamily of microcaddisflies (Hydroptilidae) in the order Trichoptera. The subfamily includes genera such as Betrichia and Mejicanotrichia, distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Diagnostic characteristics involve features of the antennae, wing venation, and male genitalia. Larvae of at least some genera are dorsoventrally flattened with numerous broad setae and inhabit high-flow aquatic environments.
Metrichia
Metrichia is a genus of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae, established by Ross in 1938. The genus belongs to the tribe Ochrotrichiini and is distributed across northern South America, with confirmed records from Colombia. As with other hydroptilids, adults are minute with reduced wing venation and larvae construct portable, silken cases.
Nothotrichia
Nothotrichia is a genus of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae, established by Flint in 1967. The genus belongs to the subfamily Hydroptilinae and is characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate it from related genera. As with other Hydroptilidae, members are small-bodied caddisflies with reduced wing venation.
Ochrotrichia
microcaddisfly
Ochrotrichia is a large genus of microcaddisflies (family Hydroptilidae) comprising approximately 226 extant species, making it the most species-rich microcaddisfly genus in the Neotropics. The genus is predominantly distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with one exceptional African record from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Species are primarily found in freshwater stream habitats.
Ochrotrichiinae
microcaddisflies
Ochrotrichiinae is a subfamily of microcaddisflies within the family Hydroptilidae, comprising approximately 430 species across nine genera. The subfamily is most diverse in the Neotropics, with additional representation in the Nearctic and Australasian regions, including an endemic genus in New Caledonia. Phylogenetic analyses support its monophyly with the exclusion of Dibusa. The subfamily originated in the New World during the early Cretaceous, approximately 116 million years ago, with subsequent dispersal to Australasia via trans-Antarctic routes.
Orthotrichia
microcaddisfly
Orthotrichia is a genus of microcaddisflies (family Hydroptilidae) containing approximately 280 species worldwide, making it the most species-rich genus in the family. The genus exhibits hypermetamorphosis and has an almost worldwide but patchy distribution, with notable radiations in Australia (55 species, ~20% of global fauna) and China (14 species). Australian species are postulated to represent a relatively recent arrival from the Oriental Region, with morphological and biological differences from Northern Hemisphere congeners suggested to contribute to regional success.
Oxyethira
Oxyethira is a genus of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) comprising over 200 described species worldwide. The genus exhibits high species diversity with new species continuing to be described, particularly from under-sampled regions. Larvae are aquatic and construct distinctive silk cases in their final instar.
Oxyethira forcipata
microcaddisfly
Oxyethira forcipata is a species of microcaddisfly described by Mosely in 1934. It belongs to the family Hydroptilidae, which contains the smallest members of the order Trichoptera. The species is known from North America and is characterized by reduced wing venation typical of the genus.
Oxyethira pallida
Oxyethira pallida is a species of microcaddisfly in the family Hydroptilidae, first described by Banks in 1904. It inhabits lentic and slow lotic freshwater systems across North America. As a microcaddisfly, it belongs to a group characterized by reduced larval cases and small adult size compared to other caddisflies.
Oxyethira serrata
Oxyethira serrata is a species of microcaddisfly in the family Hydroptilidae, described by Ross in 1938. The species belongs to a genus characterized by reduced wing venation and small adult size typical of this family. Records indicate presence in North America within the Nearctic region. As with other Hydroptilidae, adults are likely associated with aquatic or riparian habitats where larval development occurs.
Oxyethira zeronia
microcaddisfly
Oxyethira zeronia is a species of microcaddisfly described by Ross in 1941. It belongs to the family Hydroptilidae, the largest family of caddisflies, whose members are characterized by their small size and reduced wing venation. The species is recorded from North America, though specific habitat and ecological details remain poorly documented.
Palaeagapetus
Palaeagapetus is a genus of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae, subfamily Ptilocolepinae. The genus contains at least two North American species: the western P. nearcticus and the eastern P. celsus. Life stages including larva, pupa, and adult have been described, with larvae constructing portable cases.
Wormaldia arizonensis
Wormaldia arizonensis is a species of caddisfly in the family Philopotamidae, originally described by Ling in 1938. It belongs to the second largest genus in its family, with approximately 175 extant species worldwide. The species is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico. As with other philopotamid caddisflies, it is presumed to have aquatic larval stages and terrestrial adult stages, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.