October Caddis vs Sand-Case Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute October Caddis Sand-Case Caddisfly
Scientific Name Dicosmoecus gilvipes Sericostoma personatum
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Limnephilidae Sericostomatidae
Size 20-28 mm 10-14 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

October Caddis

A large orange-bodied caddisfly that hatches in autumn on western North American rivers. It is one of the most important late-season food sources for steelhead and salmon.

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Did You Know?

October caddis larvae build massive cases from pebbles and can be so abundant that they visibly alter the streambed substrate.

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.

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Did You Know?

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