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Trichoptera. Common Net-Spinning Caddisflies Vs. Regular Caddisflies . Trichoptera. North of the Rio Grande there are ~1350 species represented in 147 genera, 22 families.
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Trichoptera Common Net-Spinning Caddisflies Vs. Regular Caddisflies
Trichoptera • North of the Rio Grande there are ~1350 species represented in 147 genera, 22 families. • Habitat can range from slow moving lake waters to very fast rivers and streams with almost all habitats in those environments being populated. • Four main feeding types: • Shredders – Feed on living and/or decomposing plant matter. • Collectors – Filter debris or gather nearby fine organic particulates. • Scrapers – Feed on periphyton and/or fine organic particles. • Predators – Feed on whole animals or large parts.
Trichoptera • Basic morphology – Head, Thorax (3 segments), Abdomen (9 segments, the anal prolegs are interpreted as derivatives of the tenth segment). • Tolerance – (0-10) Ranges from 0.56-8.1. • Tolerant ≥ 7. • Not very many tolerant genera.
Trichoptera • 3 different types (based on case types). • Case maker - makes a case from organic debris or sediment. Can be fixed or portable (Most families). • Fixed retreat-makes cases or nets that are attached to a substrate of some type. • Free roaming – have no fixed retreat or portable case.
Trichoptera • Case makers – Make portable cases for protection and refuge. Cases can be made from sediment(sand, pebbles), organic matter(twigs, leaves) or shells.
Trichoptera • Net Spinners – Three main families: • Polycentropodidae – 76 species in 7 genera, usually found on the bottom and prefer slower waters. • Philopotamidae – 42 species in 3 genera, attach nets to underside of rocks in areas with good flow. • Hydropsychidae – 144 species in 12 genera, found in fast flowing areas on top of rocks.
Trichoptera • Common net spinners – Hydropsychidae • Dorsal plates (sclerites) on all three thoracic segments. • Branched gills on the ventral surface of the last two thoracic segments and most of the abdominal segments. • Usual have a setal tuft at the end of each anal proleg.
Trichoptera • Common net spinners – Hydropsychidae (cont.) • One other family might be confused with these: Hydroptilidae – also known as micro-caddisflies. • 2-6mm in length. • Three dorsal thoracic plates. • No gills on adbomen or thorax. • Case maker.
Trichoptera • Common net spinners – Hydropsychidae • Recap: • Have three dorsal plates (sclerites)on the thorax. • Have gills on the ventral side of the second and third thoracic segments and most of the abdominal segments. (first instars may not have gills) • Usually have a tuft of setae on each anal proleg. • Might be confused with Hydroptilidae
Trichoptera • Comparison of images from the key • Case maker
Trichoptera • Comparison of images from the key • Free living
Trichoptera • Comparison of images from the key • Common net spinner