Little Olive Sedge vs Mother of Pearl Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Little Olive Sedge Mother of Pearl Caddisfly
Scientific Name Hydropsyche betteni Mystacides azurea
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Hydropsychidae Leptoceridae
Size 10-14 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions North America Europe, Asia
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.

Mother of Pearl Caddisfly

A small iridescent caddisfly with long antennae and pearly blue-green wings. It swarms in large mating flights over lakes and slow rivers.

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Did You Know?

The iridescent wing scales of this caddisfly create a shimmering blue-green appearance unique among the Trichoptera.