Glacial Stonefly vs Western Bushtail Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Glacial Stonefly Western Bushtail Caddisfly
Scientific Name Leuctra alpina Gumaga nigricula
Order Plecoptera Trichoptera
Family Leuctridae Sericostomatidae
Size 6-9 mm body length 10-14 mm
Habitat Mountains Forests
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Alps, Pyrenees North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Glacial Stonefly

A small, slender stonefly found in the coldest alpine headwater streams. Its needle-like wings are rolled tightly around its body at rest.

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Did You Know?

Its rolled-wing resting posture gives the family its common name of needle flies.

Western Bushtail Caddisfly

A western North American caddisfly that constructs smooth cylindrical cases from fine sand. Larvae are leaf-shredders in forested streams.

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Did You Know?

Larvae migrate upstream as they grow, compensating for the downstream drift they experienced as young instars.