Little Black Caddis vs Giant Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Little Black Caddis Giant Caddisfly
Scientific Name Chimarra obscura Phryganea grandis
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Philopotamidae Phryganeidae
Size 6-9 mm 25-30 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Ponds & Lakes
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions Eastern North America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Little Black Caddis

A small, dark caddisfly that builds finger-shaped silk nets in stream crevices. It is widespread in warm-water streams across eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

Its silk capture tube is among the finest-meshed nets of any caddisfly, trapping microscopic food particles.

Giant Caddisfly

The largest European caddisfly with mottled brown-and-cream wings spanning up to 60 mm. Its larvae build portable cases from spirally arranged plant fragments.

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Did You Know?

Giant caddisfly larvae construct their cases in a beautiful spiral pattern from carefully cut pieces of leaves and stems.