Elongate Paederine vs Snail-Case Caddis
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Elongate Paederine | Snail-Case Caddis |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lathrobium elongatum | Helicopsyche borealis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Helicopsychidae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Elongate Paederine
A very slender, reddish-brown paederine rove beetle that lives deep within waterlogged soils near streams. Its extremely narrow body is adapted for burrowing through saturated soil.
Did You Know?
This beetle can survive prolonged submersion in water, breathing through a plastron of air trapped by microscopic hairs on its body surface.
Snail-Case Caddis
A remarkable caddisfly whose larvae build coiled cases from sand grains that closely resemble tiny snail shells. It is widespread in North American streams.
Did You Know?
Its spiral case is so convincing that early naturalists classified the larvae as snails rather than insects.