Little Olive Sedge vs Micro Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Little Olive Sedge Micro Caddisfly
Scientific Name Hydropsyche betteni Lepidostoma pluviale
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Hydropsychidae Lepidostomatidae
Size 10-14 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Forests
Diet Detritivores Herbivores
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Little Olive Sedge

A common North American net-spinning caddisfly tolerant of a range of water qualities. Larvae build intricate filtering nets in crevices between cobbles.

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Did You Know?

Silk nets are species-specific in mesh size, tuned to the preferred food particle diameter.

Micro Caddisfly

A small western caddisfly that builds neat cases from leaf discs in rain-fed headwater streams. Larvae are significant leaf-litter processors in Pacific Northwest forests.

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Did You Know?

Larvae switch from leaf-disc cases to mineral-grain cases when leaf material becomes scarce.