Trichoptera
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A trichoptera (from trich, hair, and ptera, wings), or caddis fly as it is more commonly known, is a small moth-like insect having two pairs of hairy membranous wings. Caddis flies have aquatic larvae and are found near lakes and streams.
Caddis flies can be divided into two groups, those which live in standing water (such as pond and lakes) and those which live in flowing water (rivers and streams). The species which live in standing water have cases which they make out of materials around them and feed on algae and fungus which live on the detritous (decaying leaves mostly) on the substratum. Those which live in flowing water are caseless species who live near the substratum and build webs under water much as spiders do.
Caddis flies spend most of their lives as larvae living on the substratum of water bodies before they pupate and enter their imargo (adult) form.
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External links
- Kendall Bioresearch Services Trichoptera Page (http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/trich.htm)
- Tree Of Life Trichoptera Page (http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Trichoptera&contgroup=Endopterygota)
- Trichoptera World Checklist (http://entweb.clemson.edu/database/trichopt/)
