Trichoptera
Guides
Protoptila
Protoptila is a genus of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the family Glossosomatidae, subfamily Protoptilinae. The genus is primarily Neotropical in distribution, with numerous species described from Central America, northern South America, and Mexico. Species-level taxonomy relies heavily on male genitalia morphology. The genus has been subject to multiple regional revisions, with 19 species recorded from Costa Rica alone and new species continuing to be described.
Protoptilinae
Protoptilinae is the most diverse subfamily of Glossosomatidae, the saddle- or tortoise-case-making caddisflies. The subfamily contains 18 genera with a strikingly disjunct global distribution: five genera occur in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, while the remaining thirteen genera are restricted to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Members construct portable cases from mineral or plant material. The subfamily has undergone extensive taxonomic revision based on adult morphology and molecular phylogenetics, resulting in several new synonymies and refined generic diagnoses.
Pseudostenophylax
northern caddisflies
Pseudostenophylax is a genus of northern caddisflies in the family Limnephilidae, containing at least 80 described species. The genus was established by Martynov in 1909 with Pseudostenophylax fumosus as the type species. Species are primarily distributed across northern regions of North America and Eurasia, with notable diversity in Japan and alpine regions. Research on Japanese species has revealed strong phylogeographic patterns linked to mountain formation and glacial history.
Pseudostenophylax uniformis
Pseudostenophylax uniformis is a species of caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae, originally described by Betten in 1934. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Pseudostenophylax sparsus. The species belongs to the subfamily Pseudostenophylacinae, a group of case-making caddisflies. Records indicate presence in North America, specifically in Vermont, United States.
Psilotreta
mortarjoint casemakers
Psilotreta is a genus of caddisflies in the family Odontoceridae, commonly known as mortarjoint casemakers. The genus contains more than 30 described species. These insects are aquatic in their larval stage and are found in freshwater habitats. Adults are terrestrial and short-lived.
Psilotreta frontalis
mortarjoint casemaker
Psilotreta frontalis is a species of caddisfly in the family Odontoceridae, commonly known as the mortarjoint casemaker. The species was described by Banks in 1899 and is known to occur in North America. As a member of the Odontoceridae, it belongs to a family of caddisflies whose larvae construct distinctive cases using silk and mineral particles.
Psilotreta rufa
mortarjoint casemaker
Psilotreta rufa is a species of caddisfly (order Trichoptera) in the family Odontoceridae, commonly known as the mortarjoint casemakers. The species was described by Hagen in 1861. Like other members of its family, larvae construct distinctive case coverings using mineral materials. The species occurs in North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Psychoglypha
Snow Sedges
Psychoglypha is a genus of northern caddisflies in the family Limnephilidae, commonly known as Snow Sedges. The genus contains approximately 14 described species, with most species being cold-adapted and exhibiting late-season activity patterns. The majority of species are distributed in northern and western North America, including Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, and western Canada.
Psychoglypha bella
Beautiful Northern Caddisfly
Psychoglypha bella is a species of caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae, commonly known as the Beautiful Northern Caddisfly. Originally described as Glyphotaelius bellus by Banks in 1903, this species is part of the tribe Chilostigmini within the subfamily Limnephilinae. The genus Psychoglypha comprises northern caddisflies found primarily in North American freshwater habitats.
Psychomyiidae
Net Tube Caddisflies, tube-making caddisflies, trumpet-net caddisflies
Psychomyiidae is a family of tube-making caddisflies (order Trichoptera) characterized by larvae that construct silken galleries or tubes on submerged surfaces. Adults are typically small with reduced wing venation, including absence of forewing fork I and shortened hindwing forks. The family is distinguished from similar Polycentropodidae by leg spur formula 2-4-4, short thyridial cell, and male genitalia with elongate preanal appendages and reduced tergum IX. Larvae possess separated submental sclerites, broad foretrochantin, and whip-like pupal mandible apices. The family contains approximately 10 extant genera and has a global distribution with notable diversity in the Oriental and Western Palearctic regions.
Psychomyioidea
net-tube caddisflies
Psychomyioidea is a superfamily of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the suborder Annulipalpia, commonly known as net-tube caddisflies. The superfamily comprises five families: Psychomyiidae, Xiphocentronidae, Dipseudopsidae, Polycentropodidae, and Pseudoneureclipsidae. Members are characterized by specialized antennal sensilla and larval case-building behavior using silk nets or tubes. The group is primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with significant diversity in the Neotropics, Oriental region, and Brazilian Amazon.
Ptilostomis postica
giant casemaker
Ptilostomis postica is a species of giant casemaker caddisfly in the family Phryganeidae. It is found in North America. The species was originally described as Neuronia postica by Walker in 1852. As a member of Phryganeidae, it belongs to a family of relatively large caddisflies known for constructing portable cases from plant material.
Pycnopsyche
northern caddisflies
Pycnopsyche is a genus of northern caddisflies comprising approximately 17 described species. Larvae are aquatic shredders inhabiting leaf packs in temperate streams, where they construct portable cases from leaf material. The genus exhibits temporal niche partitioning among sympatric species, with differences in case materials, habitat preferences, and adult flight periods reducing interspecific competition.
Pycnopsyche antica
northern caddisfly
Pycnopsyche antica is a species of northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae, a group of aquatic insects known for their larval cases constructed from plant material. The species occurs in North America, with records from the Nearctic region including the northeastern United States. As with other Limnephilidae, larvae are likely case-building and aquatic, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Pycnopsyche gentilis
caddisfly
Pycnopsyche gentilis is a northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae. Larvae are shredders that inhabit allochthonous organic materials in freshwater streams, where they feed on leaf litter colonized by aquatic fungi. The species is contemporaneous with congeneric P. luculenta, though larvae differ in case materials and habitat preferences. Adult males exhibit temporal partitioning of flight activity, with distinct peak arrival times at light sources when active on the same night as congeners.
Pycnopsyche indiana
northern caddisfly
Pycnopsyche indiana is a species of northern caddisfly described by Ross in 1938. It belongs to the family Limnephilidae, one of the largest families of caddisflies. The species is known from North America and is part of a genus whose larvae construct portable cases from plant material.
Pycnopsyche lepida
northern caddisfly
Pycnopsyche lepida is a species of northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae. It is found in North America. Larval ecology has been studied in Michigan streams, where microdistribution is limited by physical habitat factors.
Pycnopsyche limbata
northern caddisfly
Pycnopsyche limbata is a species of northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae. It occurs in North America, with records from the Nearctic region including the northeastern United States. As a member of Limnephilidae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich families of caddisflies, commonly known as northern caddisflies or case-makers.
Pycnopsyche luculenta
northern caddisfly
Pycnopsyche luculenta is a northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae, native to North America. Larvae inhabit allochthonous organic materials and show distinct habitat preferences and case material choices that differ from congeneric species. The species exhibits temporally segregated adult flight behavior, with male peak arrival times at light differing from sympatric P. gentilis. Research has documented larval dispersion patterns using unique tagging methods.
Pycnopsyche scabripennis
giant red sedge
Pycnopsyche scabripennis, commonly known as the giant red sedge, is a northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae. Larvae inhabit allochthonous organic materials in stream environments. The species exhibits rapid larval growth followed by early aestivation and emergence, a temporal pattern that reduces competition with congeners. Adult males display distinct peak arrival times at light sources when active alongside related species, suggesting temporal partitioning as a coexistence mechanism.
Pycnopsyche virginica
Virginia Caddisfly
Pycnopsyche virginica is a species of caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1900. It is native to North America within the Nearctic region. As a member of the genus Pycnopsyche, it belongs to a group of case-making caddisflies whose larvae construct portable cases from plant material. The species is part of the diverse Limnephilidae family, which contains many species with aquatic larval stages and terrestrial adults.
Rhyacophila
caseless caddisflies
Rhyacophila is a large genus of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the family Rhyacophilidae, comprising at least 640 described species. The genus is cosmopolitan in distribution, with significant diversity in Europe, Asia, and North America. Larvae are commonly known as 'caseless caddis' because they do not construct portable cases, instead using silk to anchor themselves to substrates in running water. The genus exhibits high endemism in certain regions, with multiple species restricted to specific mountain ranges or islands.
Rhyacophila acutiloba
Rhyacophila acutiloba is a species of free-living caddisfly in the family Rhyacophilidae, first described by Morse & Ross in 1971. As a member of the genus Rhyacophila, it belongs to a group commonly known as "caseless caddis" or "free-living caddisflies" whose larvae do not construct portable cases. The species is known from North America, with records from Vermont and other parts of the Nearctic region. Like other rhyacophilids, it is associated with lotic (flowing water) habitats.
Rhyacophila carpenteri
Rhyacophila carpenteri is a free-living caddisfly species in the family Rhyacophilidae, described by Milne in 1936. It is found in North America. As a member of the genus Rhyacophila, it belongs to a group commonly known as 'caseless caddis' that do not construct protective cases during their larval stage.
Rhyacophila grandis
Rhyacophila grandis is a species of free-living caddisfly in the family Rhyacophilidae, first described by Banks in 1911. Unlike many caddisflies, it does not construct portable cases as larvae. The species is documented from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in the available literature.
Rhyacophila manistee
Rhyacophila manistee is a species of free-living caddisfly described by Ross in 1938. As a member of the family Rhyacophilidae, its larvae are caseless, constructing silk retreats rather than portable cases. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its ecology and distribution remain limited.
Rhyacophila oreta
Rhyacophila oreta is a species of caseless caddisfly in the family Rhyacophilidae, described by Ross in 1941. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are free-living predators in freshwater habitats, constructing no protective cases. The species is known from North America in the Nearctic region. As with other Rhyacophila species, the larvae are aquatic and the adults are terrestrial, short-lived, and primarily reproductive in function.
Rhyacophilidae
Free-living Caddisflies
Rhyacophilidae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) commonly known as free-living caddisflies. Larvae are distinctive for not constructing portable cases, instead living freely on substrates in freshwater habitats. Most species are predatory. The family contains over 700 described species, with the genus Rhyacophila alone comprising approximately 500 species distributed primarily across the Northern Hemisphere.
Rhyacophiloidea
Rhyacophiloidea is a superfamily of caddisflies (order Trichoptera) established by Stephens in 1836. The group has been treated variously in classification systems, sometimes encompassing the entire suborder Spicipalpia when that group is ranked as a superfamily within Annulipalpia. The superfamily includes families of free-living caddisfly larvae that do not construct the portable cases characteristic of many other trichopteran groups.
Sericostomatidae
Bushtailed Caddisflies
Sericostomatidae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) commonly known as bushtailed caddisflies. The family comprises approximately 19 genera and at least 90 described species. Larvae construct portable cases using silk and environmental materials. The family has a global distribution with notable diversity in the Palearctic region, including endemic species in the Balkans, Iberian Peninsula, and Madagascar.
Sericostomatoidea
Sericostomatoidea is a superfamily of caddisflies (Trichoptera) containing approximately 13 families. The superfamily includes diverse case-making caddisflies, notably the Helicopsychidae (snail-case caddisflies) and the Australasian endemic family Conoesucidae. Molecular and morphological studies have confirmed the monophyly of at least some constituent families, though relationships among families remain under investigation.
Setodes
long-horned caddisfly
Setodes is a genus of long-horned caddisflies in the family Leptoceridae, established by Rambur in 1842. The genus contains at least 230 described species, making it one of the largest genera within the family. Species occur across multiple continents including Africa, Asia, and Madagascar, with colonization patterns suggesting potential dispersal from India to Madagascar. Larval stages are aquatic and inhabit freshwater lotic environments.
Setodes incertus
Setodes incertus is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae. It was originally described as Leptocerus incertus by Walker in 1852 and later transferred to the genus Setodes. The species is known from North America and is a member of the Setodini tribe within the Leptocerinae subfamily.
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.
Stactobiinae
microcaddisflies
Stactobiinae is a subfamily of microcaddisflies within the family Hydroptilidae, comprising 479 species worldwide. The subfamily is taxonomically diverse, with species distinguished primarily by detailed morphological features of adult male genitalia, including the structure of inferior appendages and phallic apex. In Brazil, 15 species have been documented, most of which are endemic to the Amazon rainforest and Atlantic Forest biomes. Recent taxonomic work has expanded knowledge of the subfamily in South America through the description of new species and documentation of new distribution records.
Thremmatidae
Thremmatidae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) currently classified within the family Uenoidae as subfamily Thremmatinae. The family includes genera such as Thremma, Neophylax, and Oligophlebodes. Larvae are case-building and can be identified by distinctive morphological features including mesonotal sclerite shape, foretrochantins, forefemora, ventral sclerites on abdominal segment I, head coloration patterns, and case morphology. At least one species, Neophylax splendens, exhibits an extended pre-pupal diapause lasting approximately three months.
Tinodes
Tinodes is a genus of caddisflies in the family Psychomyiidae, first described by John Curtis in 1834. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with the richest species assemblages in the Oriental region and southern Western Palearctic. Species have been documented from Europe, Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros, and Asia. Larvae of at least some species construct fixed tunnel-like retreats (galleries) on stone surfaces in freshwater streams. The genus serves as an important bioindicator of freshwater ecosystem health due to its sensitivity to environmental changes.
Triaenodes aba
Aba's Long-horned Caddisfly
Triaenodes aba is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, described by Milne in 1935. The common name references its notably elongated antennae, which extend well beyond the body length—a characteristic trait of the genus. As with other Leptoceridae, the larvae are aquatic and construct portable cases from plant material or sand grains. Adult emergence patterns and specific habitat preferences for this species remain poorly documented, with only four verified observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Triaenodes baris
Triaenodes baris is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, described by Ross in 1938. The species is found in North America and belongs to a genus characterized by elongated antennae in adults. As with other Leptoceridae, larvae likely inhabit aquatic environments and construct portable cases from plant material.
Triaenodes flavescens
Triaenodes flavescens is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae, described by Banks in 1900. It belongs to a genus characterized by elongated antennae that often exceed body length. The species is known from North America. As with other members of Leptoceridae, adults are associated with aquatic habitats where larvae develop.
Triaenodes injusta
Triaenodes injusta is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae. The genus Triaenodes is characterized by elongated antennae, often exceeding body length, and larvae that construct distinctive portable cases. This species is part of a diverse Nearctic fauna of Triaenodes, though specific biological details remain limited in published literature.
Triaenodes marginata
Triaenodes marginata is a species of caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae. The genus Triaenodes belongs to the tribe Triaenodini within the subfamily Leptocerinae. The species has been treated taxonomically with at least one recognized synonym, Triaenodes marginata tarda Milne, 1934, which is now considered a synonym of Triaenodes tardus. Information regarding the biology, ecology, and distribution of this specific species is limited in the provided sources.
Triaenodes tardus
long-horned caddisfly
Triaenodes tardus is a North American long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae. Larvae construct portable cases and are capable swimmers, using setae on their extended metathoracic legs to move between aquatic macrophytes. Swimming speed averages 1.47 cm/s even while carrying cases nearly double their body mass. The species exhibits reduced swimming activity when vegetation is available, indicating swimming functions primarily for habitat relocation rather than escape.
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.
Wormaldia
Wormaldia is a diverse genus of fingernet caddisflies (family Philopotamidae), comprising approximately 175 extant species globally. It is the second-largest genus in Philopotamidae after Chimarra. Species occur across all biogeographic regions except Australasia, with notable diversification in the Neotropics and Nearctic. The genus includes fossil species from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber, indicating an ancient evolutionary history. Taxonomic revisions have focused heavily on male genitalia morphology for species identification.
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.
Wormaldia moesta
fingernet caddisfly
Wormaldia moesta is a species of fingernet caddisfly described by Banks in 1914. It belongs to the family Philopotamidae, a group of caddisflies characterized by their distinctive net-spinning larval behavior. The species has been documented in North America, with specific records from Vermont in the United States.