Western Bushtail Caddisfly vs Small Ballast Caddisfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Bushtail Caddisfly | Small Ballast Caddisfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gumaga nigricula | Silo pallipes |
| Order | Trichoptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Sericostomatidae | Goeridae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Detritivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Western Bushtail Caddisfly
A western North American caddisfly that constructs smooth cylindrical cases from fine sand. Larvae are leaf-shredders in forested streams.
Did You Know?
Larvae migrate upstream as they grow, compensating for the downstream drift they experienced as young instars.
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.