Snail-Case Caddis vs Small Ballast Caddisfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Snail-Case Caddis | Small Ballast Caddisfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Helicopsyche borealis | Silo pallipes |
| Order | Trichoptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Helicopsychidae | Goeridae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Snail-Case Caddis
A remarkable caddisfly whose larvae build coiled cases from sand grains that closely resemble tiny snail shells. It is widespread in North American streams.
Did You Know?
Its spiral case is so convincing that early naturalists classified the larvae as snails rather than insects.
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.
Did You Know?
Larvae select ballast stones of remarkably uniform size relative to their body mass.