Caddisfly vs Snail-Case Caddisfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Caddisfly | Snail-Case Caddisfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Limnephilus rhombicus | Helicopsyche mexicana |
| Order | Trichoptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Limnephilidae | Helicopsychidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm body | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, North America | North America, Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Caddisfly
Moth-like adults with hairy wings held tent-like over the body. Aquatic larvae are famous architects that build portable cases from silk, pebbles, sand, leaves, and shells.
Did You Know?
Artist Hubert Duprat gave caddisfly larvae gold flakes, pearls, and precious stones — the larvae incorporated them into their cases, creating tiny jeweled sculptures.
Snail-Case Caddisfly
A remarkable caddisfly whose larva builds a coiled sand-grain case resembling a tiny snail shell. Found in warm streams of the American Southwest.
Did You Know?
Cases so closely resemble snail shells that they were originally described as a new genus of freshwater snail.