Arctic Caddisfly vs Microcaddisfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Caddisfly | Microcaddisfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apatania zonella | Hydroptila sparsa |
| Order | Trichoptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Apataniidae | Hydroptilidae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Arctic Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, Arctic Canada | Europe, North America |
| 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.
Microcaddisfly
One of the smallest caddisflies, with adults only 3-4 mm long. Larvae build tiny purse-shaped cases from silk and algae on submerged rocks.
Did You Know?
Microcaddisfly larvae build a new case for each instar, and their final pupal case is so small it is barely visible to the naked eye.