Mother-of-Pearl Caddis vs Sand-Case Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mother-of-Pearl Caddis Sand-Case Caddisfly
Scientific Name Glyphotaelius pellucidus Sericostoma personatum
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Limnephilidae Sericostomatidae
Size 15-22 mm 10-14 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mother-of-Pearl Caddis

A large European caddisfly with translucent wings that shimmer with iridescence. Larvae construct flat cases from pieces of dead leaves.

💡

Did You Know?

Larvae cut leaf pieces into precise rectangles to build their distinctive flat cases.

Sand-Case Caddisfly

A caddisfly whose larvae build smooth, curved cases entirely from fine sand grains cemented with silk. Adults are dark with hairy wings.

💡

Did You Know?

The curved sand-grain cases built by these larvae are so precisely constructed they resemble tiny miniature architectural works.