Mother-of-Pearl Caddis vs Sand Fly Caddis

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mother-of-Pearl Caddis Sand Fly Caddis
Scientific Name Glyphotaelius pellucidus Glossosoma intermedium
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Limnephilidae Glossosomatidae
Size 15-22 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Europe North America
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.

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Did You Know?

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

Sand Fly Caddis

A small caddisfly whose larvae build distinctive tortoise-shell-shaped stone cases. They are important grazers on algae-covered stream rocks.

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Did You Know?

Glossosoma larvae abandon and rebuild their dome-shaped cases each time they need to move to a new grazing site.