Arctic Caddisfly vs Larch Ladybird
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Caddisfly | Larch Ladybird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apatania zonella | Aphidecta obliterata |
| Order | Trichoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Apataniidae | Coccinellidae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Arctic Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, Arctic Canada | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Caddisfly
A small, hairy-winged caddisfly with dark brown wings held tent-like over the body. Larvae build portable cases from sand grains and small stones. It is one of the most northerly distributed caddisflies in the world.
Did You Know?
Some Arctic populations of this caddisfly reproduce by parthenogenesis, with females producing offspring without mating.
Larch Ladybird
A small brown ladybird that specializes on larch-feeding aphids in European conifer forests. Its cryptic coloration helps it blend in with bark.
Did You Know?
It overwinters in large aggregations under bark flakes, sometimes numbering in the thousands.