Tube-Making Caddis vs Long-Toed Water Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tube-Making Caddis Long-Toed Water Beetle
Scientific Name Psychomyia flavida Stenelmis crenata
Order Trichoptera Coleoptera
Family Psychomyiidae Elmidae
Size 5-8 mm 2-3.5 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Gall Makers Omnivores
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tube-Making Caddis

A small caddisfly whose larvae build silken tubes cemented to rock surfaces in rivers. The tubes create a network of galleries on submerged stones.

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Did You Know?

Entire rock surfaces can be covered in a patchwork of silken tubes built by dense colonies.

Long-Toed Water Beetle

A small riffle beetle with elongated tarsal claws for gripping rocks in fast currents. Both adults and larvae are entirely aquatic.

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Did You Know?

Adults can live for several years underwater, far longer than most beetles.