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Caddisflies, sedge-flies or rail flies (Order Trichoptera, from Greek trich, "hair", and ptera, "wings") are small moth-like insects having two pairs of hairy membranous wings. Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Amphiesmenoptera is an Insect Superorder, established by Willi Hennig in his revision of insect taxonomy for two sister orders Lepidoptera Annulipalpia is a suborder of Trichoptera. Spicipalpia is a suborder of Trichoptera, the caddisflies Integripalpia is a suborder of Trichoptera, the caddisflies Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Insect wings are outgrowths of the Insect Exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. They are closely related to Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) which have scales on their wings, and the two orders together form the superorder Amphiesmenoptera. Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Amphiesmenoptera is an Insect Superorder, established by Willi Hennig in his revision of insect taxonomy for two sister orders Lepidoptera Caddisflies have aquatic larvae and are found in a wide variety of habitats such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, spring seeps, and temporary waters (vernal pools). A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Vernal pools, also called ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water The larvae of many species make protective cases of silk decorated with gravel, sand, twigs or other debris.
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Ecology
Although caddisflies may be found in waterbodies of varying qualities, species-rich caddisfly assemblages are generally thought of as being indicative of clean water. Together with stoneflies and mayflies, caddisflies feature importantly in bioassessment surveys of streams and other water bodies. Plecoptera are an order of Insects commonly known as stoneflies. Mayflies are Insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera (from the Greek ephemeros = "short-lived" pteron Caddisfly species can be found in all feeding guilds in stream habitats, with some species being predators, leaf shredders, algal grazers, and collectors of particles from the watercolumn and benthos. Benthos are the organisms which live on in or near the Seabed, also known as the Benthic zone.
Underwater architects
Caddisflies are considered underwater architects because most species use silt for building throughout their larval life. Caddisflies can loosely be divided into three behavioral groups based on this use of silt: retreat-making caddisflies, case-making caddisflies, and free-living caddisflies. Those that build retreats build a net or retreat from silt and other materials and use it to catch food items such as algae, aquatic invertebrates and zooplankton from the flowing stream. Case-making caddisflies make portable cases using silk along with substrate materials such as small fragments of rock, sand, small pieces of twig, aquatic plants, or sometimes silk alone. Many use the retreats or cases throughout their larval life, adding to, or enlarging them as they grow. These may look very much like bagworm cases, which are constructed by various moth species that are not aquatic. "Bagworm" redirects here The term "bagworm" is often erroneously used to refer to the Eastern tent caterpillar or Fall webworm. Free-living caddisflies do not build retreats or carry portable cases until they are ready to pupate.
Development
Many species of caddisfly larvae enter a stage of inactivity called the pupa stage for weeks or months after they mature but prior to emergence. Their emergence is then triggered by cooling water temperatures in the fall, effectively synchronizing the adult activity to make mate-finding easier. In the Northwestern US, caddisfly larvae within their gravel cases are called 'periwinkles. '[2]
Caddisfly pupation occurs much like pupation of Lepidoptera. Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. That is, caddisflies pupate in a cocoon spun from silk. A pupa ( Latin pupa for doll pl pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some Insects undergoing transformation Caddisflies which build the portable cases attach their case to some underwater object, seal the front and back apertures against predation though still allowing water flow, and pupate within it. Once fully developed, most pupal caddisflies cut through their cases with a special pair of mandibles, swim up to the water surface, cast off skin and the now-obsolete gills and mandibles, and emerge as fully formed adults. In a minority of species, the pupae swim to shore (either below the water - see figure - or across the surface) and crawl out to emerge. Many of them are able to fly immediately after breaking from their pupal skin.
The adult stage of caddisflies, in most cases, is very shortlived, usually only 1-2 weeks, but can sometimes last for 2 months. Most adults are non-feeding and are equipped mainly to mate. Once mated, the female caddisfly will often lay eggs (enclosed in a gelatinous mass) by attaching them above or below the water surface. Eggs hatch in as little as three weeks. In most Birds and Reptiles an egg ( Latin ovum) is the Zygote, resulting from Fertilization of the Ovum.
Caddisflies in most temperate areas complete their lifecycles in a single year. A life cycle is a period involving 1 Generation of an Organism through means of Reproduction, whether through Asexual reproduction or Sexual The general temperate-zone lifecycle pattern is one of larval feeding and growth in autumn, winter, and spring, with adult emergence between late spring and early fall, although the adult activity of a few species peaks in the winter. Larvae are active in very cold water and can frequently be observed feeding under ice. In common with many aquatic insect species, many caddisfly adults emerge synchronously en masse. Such emergence patterns ensure that most caddisflies will encounter a member of the opposite sex in a timely fashion. Mass emergences of this nature are called 'hatches' by salmon and trout anglers, and salmonid fish species will frequently 'switch' to whatever species is emerging on a particular day. Anglers take advantage of this behavior by matching their artificial flies to the appropriate fly. Artificial fly is an Angling term closely associated with the sport of Fly fishing although artificial flies may be used in other forms of angling
References
- ^ Trichoptera. Fauna Europaea (2005-03-07). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus
- ^ Dictionary of American Regional English, Volume IV
A useful reference to the larvae of the British Trichoptera is: "Caddis Larvae" Norman E. The Dictionary of American Regional English ( DARE or Dictionary) is a record of American English as spoken in the United States from its beginning up to Hickin (1967) Hutchinson & Co. Ltd. London
External links
- Caddisflies and Fly Fishing - Photos, limited species life history descriptions.
- Adult caddisfly and caddisfly larva (casemaker) — diagnostic photographs and information
- Kendall Bioresearch Services Trichoptera page
- Tree of Life Trichoptera page
- Trichoptera world checklist
- Diversity Web [1]
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