Sand Fly Caddis vs Micro Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sand Fly Caddis Micro Caddisfly
Scientific Name Glossosoma intermedium Lepidostoma pluviale
Order Trichoptera Trichoptera
Family Glossosomatidae Lepidostomatidae
Size 6-9 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Forests
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions North America 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.

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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.

Micro Caddisfly

A small western caddisfly that builds neat cases from leaf discs in rain-fed headwater streams. Larvae are significant leaf-litter processors in Pacific Northwest forests.

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Did You Know?

Larvae switch from leaf-disc cases to mineral-grain cases when leaf material becomes scarce.