Little Black Caddis vs Northern Bushtail Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Little Black Caddis Northern Bushtail Caddisfly
Scientific Name Chimarra obscura Sericostoma schneideri
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Philopotamidae Sericostomatidae
Size 6-9 mm 11-15 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Mountains
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Eastern North America Europe
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.

Northern Bushtail Caddisfly

A cold-water caddisfly of northern European mountain streams. Larvae build sturdy curved cases from fine gravel and process leaf litter.

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Did You Know?

Larvae condition leaf material by allowing fungal colonization before consuming it, much like composting.