Snail-Case Caddisfly vs Micro Caddisfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Snail-Case Caddisfly | Micro Caddisfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Helicopsyche mexicana | Lepidostoma pluviale |
| Order | Trichoptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Helicopsychidae | Lepidostomatidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America, Central America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Snail-Case Caddisfly
A remarkable caddisfly whose larva builds a coiled sand-grain case resembling a tiny snail shell. Found in warm streams of the American Southwest.
Did You Know?
Cases so closely resemble snail shells that they were originally described as a new genus of freshwater snail.
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.
Did You Know?
Larvae switch from leaf-disc cases to mineral-grain cases when leaf material becomes scarce.