Saskatchewan Caddisflies (Trichoptera)

The Trichoptera is one of the most diverse orders of aquatic insects with over 7,000 species known world wide. In North America, 22 families are represented by at least 1350 species. In Saskatchewan there are 15 families reported and at least 194 species. Probably the most interesting feature to the non-fishing general public of this group is the cases that many of the larvae construct out of various materials. Caddisflies are found in all types of aquatic habitats throughout Saskatchewan. The majority are intolerant of pollution and, as such, are valuable tools for monitoring organic and chemical contamination of habitats.

Trichoptera are holometabolous insects with a four-stage life cycle: egg, a five instar larva, pupa and adult. For many species development is arrested by diapause in one of the stages to synchronize the life cycle with favourable environmental conditions. For the majority of the species in the province only one generation is produced a year. However, there are exceptions that either have multiple generations a year while others take more than a year to complete the life cycle.

Females usually lay eggs directly into the water either singly or in masses. Some species lay their eggs above the water on overhanging vegetation while those inhabiting temporary ponds lay their eggs in dry pond basins. The larval stage is the only real significant feeding stage. Most species are omnivorous. The larvae scrape food off surfaces or shred decaying plant debris with their mandibles. Many species found in running water construct intricate nets of silk to filter food particles out of the water current. A few species are predaceous on other invertebrates during all or part of the larval stage. The pupal stage lasts for two to three weeks. The moth-like adults live from a few days to a number of months. In the latter case most of the time is spent in adult diapause.

With few exceptions larvae construct cases/retreats out of a variety of materials (pieces of plants, algae, sand grains, snail shells or entirely of silk). The materials are bound together with strands of silk secreted by the larva. The retreats are of 4 basic types. The family Glossosomatidae makes a mobile retreat of rock fragments that resemble tortoise shells. Final instars of the tiny Hydroptilidae build purse or barrel shaped cases of algal cells, sand grains or silk. A number of groups, including the families Phryganeidae, Brachycentridae and Limnephilidae construct portable retreats that are tubular. A further retreat type is the fixed retreats typical of the Hydropsychidae. These retreats are constructed of sand grains and organic debris and are attached to rocks or logs in running water or along rocky wave-washed lake shores. The anterior opening has a silk net covering that acts as a filter to remove food particles from the water which the larva periodically eats and replaces. The family Helicopsychidae makes a sand grain retreat that looks like a small snail shell.

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Below is a family key to the larvae of caddisflies found in Saskatchewan. It has been modified from Smith (1984) and Clifford (1991). An interactive pdf version of the key is available by emailing me and requesting a copy.

1a: Larvae with a very curved body.~~~~~--Helicopsychidae (SK Helicopsychidae Distribution Maps)

1b: Larvae not curved. Cases in other shapes or case less.--Go to 2

2a: Each thoracic dorsum covered by large paired plates~~~~~.--3

2b: Dorsal part of each meso and metathoracic segments with large areas of membranous cuticle A: Entirely membranous meso and metathorax. B: Large plates on mesothorax and small plates on metathorax.on at least the last thoracic segment (metathorax).--4

3a: Abdominal gills~~~~~ many branched. Mature larvae greater than 6 mm long. Larvae build retreats rather than cases.--Hydropsychidae (SK Hydropsychidae Distribution Maps)

3b: Mature larvae less than 6 mm long. Gills single or not evident. Cases ~~~~~are made of a variety of materials including, sand grains, silk, and algae.--Hydroptilidae (SK Hydroptilidae Distribution Maps)

4a: Antennae "long"~~~~~, about 6 times as long as wide.--Some Leptoceridae (SK Leptoceridae Distribution Maps)

4b: Antennae much shorter~~~~~ and indistinct.--5

5a: Plate on prothorax large~~~~~. Meso and metathorax membranous or if plates are present they are very small.--6

5b: Plates on first two thoracic segments large~~~~~ and well developed.--11

6a: Abdominal segment one has a dorsal hump and lateral humpsd.h.= dorsal hump;l.h.= lateral hump; mes= mesonotum; met= metatnotum.--Phryganeidae (SK Phryganeidae Distribution Maps)

6b: No humps on abdominal segment one.--7

7a: Anal proleg short ~~~~~and broadly joined with abdominal segment nine. Claw with one or more dorsal accessory hooks .--Glossosomatidae (SK Glossosomatidae Distribution Maps)

7b: Anal proleg longer and not broadly joined to segment nine.--8

8a: A plate present ~~~~~dorsal surface of abdominal segment nine. Branched gills present or absent.--Rhyacophilidae (SK Rhyacophilidae Distribution Maps)

8b: No plate on abdominal segment nine. Gills never branched.--9

9a: Upper lip of mouth (labrum) ~~~~~ in the form of a "T".--Philopotomatidae (SK Philopotomatidae Distribution Maps)

9b: Labrum not "T" shaped.--10

10a: Protrochantin pointed ~~~~~ toward apex. (Best viewed obliquely to see the shape.).--Polycentropodidae (SK Polycentropodidae Distribution Maps)

10b: Protrochantin in the shape of a hatchet~~~~~ or meat cleaver.--Psychomyiidae (SK Psychomyiidae Distribution Maps)

11a: Antennae short. Second thoracic segment (mesothorax) with distinctive markings~~~~~.--Some Leptoceridae (SK Leptoceridae Distribution Maps)

11b: Antenne short. No distintive markings on mesothorax.--12

12a: No dorsal hump on abdominal segment one.--13

12b: Dorsal hump on presentLH = lateral hump. DH = dorsal hump. abdominal segment one present.--14

13a: Antenna very close Arrow indicates antenna near eye. to the front margin of the eye. Abdominal segment one with lateral humps present. Mature larvae make square cases.--Lepidostomatidae (SK Lepidostomatidae Distribution Maps)

13b: Antenna about half way between front corner of eye and the front the the head. Abdominal segment one lacking ~~~~~lateral humps. Mature larva construct square cases.--Brachycentridae (SK Brachycentridae Distribution Maps)

14a: Claw of hindlegs a short haired stump ~~~~~ different from the other two pairs. Or, a long fine claw with accessory hair. Cases made of sand grain with a "porch roof" overhanging the anterior opening.--Molannidae (SK Molannidae Distribution Maps)

14b: Hind claws similar in structure as the other claws. Cases come in a variety of shapes and made from many different types of materials.--Limnephilidae (SK Limnephilidae Distribution Maps)

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Saskatchewan species list to Caddisflies (Trichoptera):

References

Flannigan, J.F. & S.R. Macdonald. 1987. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera of Peatlands and Marshes in Canada. Mem. Ent. Soc. Can. 140:47-56.

Floyd, M.A. 1995. Larvae of the caddisfly genus Oecetis (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) in North America. Bull. Ohio Biol. Sur. 10 No.3.

Glover, J.B. 1996. Larve of the caddisfly genera Triaenodes and Ylodes (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) in North America. Bull. Ohio biol. Survey 11 No.2.

Morse, J.C. and R.W. Holzenthal. 2008. Chapter 18: Trichoptera Genera. In. Merritt R.W. and K.W. Cummins. Ed. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. 4th Edition. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. Dubuque, Iowa.

Nimmo, A.P. 1987. The adult Arctopsychidae and Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera) of Canada and adjacent United States. Quaest. Ent. 23:1-189

Nimmo, A.P. 1986. The adult Polycentropodidae of Canada and adjacent United States. Queast. Ent. 22:143-252.

Nimmo, A.P. 1971. The adult Rhyacophilidae and Limnephilidae (Trichoptera) of Alberta and Eastern British Columbia and their post glacial origin. Quaest Ent. 7:3-234.

Parker, C.R. and G.B. Wiggins. 1985. The Nearctic caddisfly genus Hesperophylax Banks (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae). Can. J. Zool. 63:2443-2472.

Ruiter, D.E. 1995. The genus Limnephilus Leach (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) of the new world. Bull. Ohio Biol. Sur. 11. No.1.

Schmid. F. 1998. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada Part7: Genera of the Trichoptera of Canada and Adjoining or Adjacent United States.

Smith, D. H. 1984. Systematics of Saskatchewan Trichoptera larvae with emphasis on species from the boreal streams. Ph.D. Thesis U. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. SK 1302 pp.

Smith, D. H. 1975. The taxonomy of the Trichoptera (Caddisflies) of the Saskatchewan River System in Saskatchewan. MSc. Thesis. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK. 273 pp.

Wiggins, G.B. 1998. The caddisfly family Phryganeidae (Trichoptera). NRC Research Press, Canada Institute for Sci. and Tech. Info.U. of Toronto Press. Toronto.

Wiggins, G.B. 1996. Larvae of the North American Caddisfly Genera . 2nd Ed. University of Toronto Press.

Wiggins, G. B. 1960. A preliminary systematic study of the North American larvae of the caddisfly family Phryganeidae (Trichoptera) Can. J. Zool. 38:1153-1170.

Wiggins, G.B. and D.C. Currie. 2008. Chapter 17: Trichoptera Families. In. Merritt R.W. and K.W. Cummins and MB Berg. Ed. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. 4th Edition. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. Dubuque, Iowa.