Short-Tailed Stonefly vs Small Ballast Caddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Short-Tailed Stonefly Small Ballast Caddisfly
Scientific Name Brachyptera risi Silo pallipes
Order Plecoptera Trichoptera
Family Taeniopterygidae Goeridae
Size 8-14 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Short-Tailed Stonefly

A medium-sized early-emerging stonefly with notably short cerci. It hatches in late winter and early spring across European rivers.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the first insects to emerge each year, often appearing while rivers still have ice margins.

Small Ballast Caddisfly

A small caddisfly that cements large pebbles to its mineral case for ballast in fast water. Found exclusively in clean calcareous streams.

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Did You Know?

Larvae select ballast stones of remarkably uniform size relative to their body mass.