Temperate-colonist

Guides

• Helicopsyche borealis

  Spectacled Snail-case Caddisfly

  Helicopsyche borealis is a caddisfly species in the family Helicopsychidae, notable as one of only two Helicopsyche species to colonize temperate North America from a predominantly tropical genus. Larvae construct distinctive spiral, snail-like cases from sand grains cemented with silk. The species inhabits running waters across North America and plays a role as a collector-gatherer and scraper in stream ecosystems. Adults emerge in spring, and the life cycle is univoltine with egg diapause through summer.

  TrichopteracaddisflyHelicopsychidaefreshwaterstreamcase-buildingunivoltineNearcticdetritivoregrazerhyporheicperiphytonspiral-casesand-casetemperate-colonist