Sand Fly Caddis vs Harvester Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sand Fly Caddis Harvester Butterfly
Scientific Name Glossosoma intermedium Feniseca tarquinius
Order Trichoptera Lepidoptera
Family Glossosomatidae Lycaenidae
Size 6-9 mm 28-33 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Sap Feeders
Regions North America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sand Fly Caddis

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

💡

Did You Know?

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

Harvester Butterfly

The only carnivorous butterfly in North America, whose caterpillar feeds on woolly aphids rather than plants. Adults are small and orange-brown with dark spotting.

💡

Did You Know?

The caterpillar camouflages itself with the waxy white filaments of its aphid prey while feeding.