Trichoptera of Gunnison County, ColoradoIntroduction to the Caddisfly family Hydroptilidae
Microcaddisflies, Purse Case Makers Stephens, 1836
Updated 20 February 2026
TSN 115629
Provisional Species List
There are likely to be additional species in our basin.
Good Links
Photos, Map, Taxon Identifier Numbers - from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Hydroptilidae at GBIF
Photos, Map, Museum specimens, DNA - Barcodinglife.org
Photos and discussion - from the Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest
Seriochemicals of the genus Hydroptila https://www.pherobase.com/database/genus/genus-Hydroptila.php
References
Al Mousa,MDA; Nachappa,P; Ruiter,DE; Givens,DR and Fairchild,MP 2022 Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) of montane and alpine lakes of northern Colorado (USA). Western North American Naturalist, 82(3), pp.563-576. PDF
Quote from pages 569-570: "The purse-case caddisflies, or microcaddisflies, constitute the largest caddisfly family with more than 2000 species worldwide, represented by at least 309 species in the continental United States and Canada (Rasmussen and Morse 2021) and at least 27 species in Colorado (Herrmman et al. 1986, Zuellig et al. 2012). Two hydroptilid species of 2 genera were recorded from high-elevation lentic
habitats of northern Colorado. The Holarctic Agraylea multipunctata Curtis, 1834, a common species in rivers, ponds, and lakes (Zuellig et al. 2012), is widely distributed throughout northern North America and was recorded from several localities in Boulder, Gilpin, Larimer, and Routt counties between 1982 and 2012 (Table 1, Supplementary Material 1). The genus Oxyethira was represented by one species, the Nearctic Oxyethira dualis Morton, 1905, recorded once from a wetland adjacent to a montane lake in Boulder County (Table 1, Supplementary Material 1)."
Banks,N 1911 Descriptions of new species of North American Neuropterid Insects. Transactions of American Entomological Society 37, 335-360.
Blickle,RL 1979 Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera) of America North of Mexico. Bulletin of the University of New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station 509:1-97. PDF
Has keys for all the North American adult Hydroptilidae.
Canton,SP and Ward,JV 1981 The aquatic insects, with emphasis on Trichoptera, of a Colorado stream affected by coal strip-mine drainage. Southwestern Naturalist 25 4, 453-460.
They studied Trout Creek where it runs through the Edna Coal Mine in northwestern Colorado. The mine spoils were 30 meters from the edge of the creek (approximately a 100 foot buffer zone). They found the aquatic insect density (numbers per square meter) and biomass (weight in grams per square meter) did not change above and below the mine. The Shannon-Weaver Diversity index also showed no difference between sites. However the community structure (which species were present and proportions) did change. Since there were irrigation water and cattle influences at their downstream site, their results may reflect these additional water uses. They note the biggest visible change at this mine is the loss of willow and alder trees downstream of the mine. The caddisfly population changed the most between sites, shifting from a mix of families above the mine to dominance by Hydropsychidae and Glossosomatidae below the mine.
Quote from page 457: "Hydroptilidae (primarily Hydroptila) were relatively well represented at C2 (reference site), accounting for 6% of caddisfly numbers; however, at C4 (mine affected), they comprised less than 1% of the density."
Crichton,MI 1957 The structure and function of the mouth parts of adult caddis flies (Trichoptera). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 241(677), pp.45-91. PDF
Abstract: "The paper gives a detailed account of the structure and function of the mouth parts of Phryganea striata L., followed by a comparative study of these structures throughout the order Trichoptera. Observations on the feeding of caddis flies are reviewed. Consideration is given to homologies and phylogeny. In Phryganea the head is produced ventrally into a proboscis to which all parts of the mouth complex contribute. A detailed account is given of external and internal structure, musculature, and nervous system of the head and mouth parts. The central area of the anterior surface of the head capsule is interpreted as a frontoclypeus because of the origin of muscles to the foregut. The elongate labrum covers a sclerotized groove or sitophore. Mandibles are reduced to small lobes. The cardines and stipites of the maxillae contribute to the base of the proboscis. The single maxillary lobe is interpreted as a lacinia on grounds of musculature. The distinctive protrusible haustellum is regarded as derived from the hypopharynx. It is traversed by a common salivary duct, provided with a muscular valve. The anterior surface of the haustellum is covered with a system of channels which converge to the sitophore. These channels are formed by cuticular outgrowths arranged in lines and drawn out into filaments which roof the channels thus formed. These outgrowths, which are named pectinate hairs, differ in form according to their position on the haustellum. The labium forms part of the base of the proboscis. There is no ligula. Extension of the proboscis is brought about both by muscle action on sclerites and increased blood pressure affecting the flexible areas of cuticle. Relaxation results from reduction in blood pressure, and contraction of retractor muscles. The haustellum functions as an organ for taking up liquids. A direct drinking and a lapping attitude are described. The comparative study includes observations on fifty-three species, which are representative of each of the thirteen families found in Britain. All species examined have a protrusible haustellum, and are capable of drinking. The most highly developed condition is seen in the Phryganeidae and Limnephilidae. A channelled haustellum is also found in the Sericostomatidae, Beraeidae, Molannidae, Odontoceridae, Leptoceridae and Polycentropidae. A simple granulose haustellar surface, devoid of channels, is present in the Hydropsychidae, Psychomyidae, Philopotamidae, Rhyacophilidae and Hydroptilidae. The mandibles are of doubtful function. They are largest in the Hydropsychidae and Rhyacophilidae, and most reduced in Limnephilidae. Small lobes, which are thought to represent the ligula of the labium, are seen in the Philopotamidae, Hydropsychidae, Psychomyidae and Polycentropidae. These differing conditions of the mouth parts are shown to accord with views on the phylogeny of the Trichoptera, which are derived from other data. An account is given of published descriptions of modified mouth parts in some exotic species. The nature of these modifications is discussed. Published observations on the feeding of caddis flies are reviewed. It is concluded that using the haustellum to drink nectar and water is a normal activity of caddis flies."
Denning,DG and Blickle,RL 1972 A review of the genus Ochrotrichia (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 65 (1) 141-151.
Djernæs,M 2011 Structure and phylogenetic significance of the sternum V glands in Trichoptera Zootaxa 2884: 1-60.
Abstract: "I investigated the sternum V gland in 38 families of Trichoptera, and found it to be present in 25 of these. I found that the gland is generally present in Annulipalpia, except Dipseudopsidae, and in Spicipalpia. It is widespread in Plenitentoria, while it is often absent in Brevitentoria, especially in males. The opening is slit-like and U or crescent-shaped. There is significant variation in the cuticular structures associated with the opening ranging from no apparent modification, over scaly patches to elaborate protuberances. Gland opening muscles are associated with the gland in all families except Psychomyiidae, and are divided into 2 distinct types: One originating on the front edge of sternum VI found in Philopotamidae, Rhyacophilidae, Glossosomatidae and Hydroptilidae; and 1 originating on the cuticle of sternum V found in all other trichopterans. The shape of the gland reservoir is variable, from round periform to reniform, elongate or compartmentalised. Muscle fibres are often associated with the reservoir, but are notably absent in Limnephilidae. I mapped characters based on gland structures on a phylogeny of Trichoptera, and discuss the results. The sternum V gland provides potentially important characters from the superorder to the species leve l. I discuss 2 cases where characters from the sternum V gland may solve existing phylogenetic and taxonomic puzzles: Delimitation of Dipseudopsidae versus Polycentropodidae and the relationships among the hydropsychid subfamilies. "
Dudley,TL; Cooper,SD and Hemphill,N 1986. Effects of macroalgae on a stream invertebrate community. Journal North American Benthological Society 5: 93-106. Abstract and first page
Dyar,HG 1890. The number of molts of lepidopterous larvae. Psyche Nov.-Dec. 420-422.
Eskov,KYu; Ivanov,VD; Sukatsheva,ID and Wells,A 2004 Geographic history of the family Hydroptilidae
(Trichoptera). In Materialy. II Vserossiyskiy simpozium po amfibioticheskim i vodnym nasekomym. Voronezh, 40-48 (in Russian)
Flint, OS and Herrmann,SJ 1976 The description of, and environmental characterization for, a new species of Ochrotrichia from Colorado (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 69: 894-898.
Ge,X and Morse,JC 2025 Functional traits of ancestral caddisfly (Trichoptera) larvae and pupae. ZooKeys, 1263, p.47. HTML
Abstract: "Recent phylogenomic studies have concluded that the ancestor of order Trichoptera and suborder Integripalpia probably had a larva that was "free living," without a portable case or fixed retreat. Phylogenies inferred from those investigations regarding hypotheses for other probable functional traits of larvae and pupae of the Trichoptera ancestor and its immediate descendants were considered, especially with reference to the extant amphiesmenopteran sister lineage Lepidoptera. To test our hypotheses an Ancestral Character State Reconstruction by Parsimony Analysis was performed to explore functional traits for five habitat and behavioral traits. Like the larva of Micropterigidae, the basal lineage of Lepidoptera, the ancestral caddisfly larva was not only "free living" but also was a shredding herbivore of bryophytes. Like that larva, it may have been often submerged, perhaps as a semi-aquatic sprawler in madicolous or hygropetric habitats, but it could also have been a clinger in lotic-erosional habitats. Also, the characteristics of the pupal cocoon are not clear; it may have been closed and permeable like that of Micropterigidae, or it was closed and semipermeable like that of Hydroptilidae, or it was open in a long-dome shelter like that of the Annulipalpia ancestor."
Ge,X; Peng,L; Vogler,AP; Morse,JC; Yang,L; Sun,C and Wang,B 2022 Massive gene rearrangements of mitochondrial genomes and implications for the phylogeny of Trichoptera (Insecta). Systematic Entomology. PDF
Abstract: "Mitochondrial genomes have been widely used for phylogenetic reconstruction and evolutionary analysis in various groups of Insecta. Gene rearrangements in the mitogenome can be informative characters for phylogenetic reconstruction and adaptive evolution. Trichoptera is one of the most important groups of aquatic insects. Prior to this study, complete mitogenomes from Trichoptera were restricted to eight families, resulting in a biased view of their mitogenome structure and evolution. Here, we assemble new mitogenomes for 66 species by high-throughput sequencing. The mitogenomes of 19 families and 47 genera are documented for the first time. Combined with 16 previously published mitogenomes of Trichoptera, we find 14 kinds of gene rearrangement patterns novel for Trichoptera, including rearrangement of protein-coding genes, tRNAs and control regions. Simultaneously, we provide evidence for the occurrence of tandem duplication and non-random loss events in the mitogenomes of three families. Phylogenetic analyses show that Hydroptilidae was recovered as a sister group to Annulipalpia. The increased nucleotide substitution rate and adaptive evolution may have affected the mitochondrial gene rearrangements in Trichoptera. Our study offers new insights into the mechanisms and patterns of mitogenome rearrangements in Insecta at large and into the usefulness of mitogenomic gene order as a phylogenetic marker within Trichoptera."
Herrmann,SJ; Ruiter,DE and Unzicker,JD 1986 Distribution and records of Colorado Trichoptera. Southwestern Naturalist 31 4, 421-457.
This is the source for all the Hydroptilidae species on our list.
Holzenthal,RW; Blahnik,RJ; Prather,AL and Kjer,KM 2007 Order Trichoptera Kirby, 1813 (Insecta), Caddisflies. PDF
Abstract: "SPICIPALPIA"
Hydroptilidae: This family of caddisflies is the smallest in the order in terms of body size (adults range from about 1.5 mm to about 5 mm or so), but it is the largest in species diversity, with about 2,000 described species found on every habitable continent. The family was established by Stephens (1836) and was recognized as a subfamily of Phryganeidae by very early workers (e.g., Westwood 1840), but the distinctive nature of the family was long recognized (Pictet 1834). The family is divided into 2 subfamilies, Hydroptilinae Stephens 1836, and Ptilocolepinae Martynov 1913, although Martynov (1913) considered the later a subfamily of Rhyacophilidae. Recently, Malicky (2001, 2005) elevated Martynov's subfamily to full family status, Ptilocolepidae Martynov 1913. For the purposes of this review, however, we retain its position as a subfamily within Hydroptilidae. It should be noted that in recent molecular studies (Holzenthal et al. 2007, Kjer et al. 2001, 2002), Ptilocolepus and Palaeagapetus consistently grouped with other Hydroptilidae, making their elevation to family a redundant taxonomic change that adds no new information to our current understanding of family relationships and loses information about the phylogenetic relationships of these genera with other hydroptilids. Wiggins (2004) suggested that taxonomy progresses best when based on rigorous analysis of phylogenetic relationships; such an analysis of the Hydroptilidae has not been done since Marshall's (1979) review of the family. Examples of such studies on subsets of hydroptilid genera are those of Kjaerandsen (1997, 2004, Kjaerandsen & Andersen 2002). Ptilocolepus Kolenati (Europe, India, Southeast Asia) and Palaeagapetus Ulmer (North America, far east of Russia, Japan) are small genera of about 10 species each, noted for their primitive wing venation. The nominotypical subfamily contains about 70 genera, divided into 6 tribes; 6 genera are incertae sedis in the subfamily (Marshall 1979, Morse 2006) (Table 3). Three tribes are largely endemic to the Neotropics, Leucotrichiini Flint, Neotrichiini Ross, and Ochrotrichiini Marshall, although some genera, e.g., Leucotrichia Mosely, Neotrichia Morton, and Ochrotrichia Mosely, the later 2 with well over 100 species each, have significant diversity well into North America. The Hydroptilini Stephens is primarily Old World in distribution, with 7 and 4 of its 23 genera endemic to Australasia and the Afrotropics, respectively; none of these genera have more than about 1 dozen species, and most have only 1 or a few. Additional monotypic genera include Hydroptilina Martynov (Russian Far East), Paucicalcaria Mathis and Bowles (Arkansas, USA), and Vietrichia Olah (Vietnam). Agraylea Curtis occurs across the Holarctic and has about 20 species. The other Hydroptilini genera are more widespread across several biogeographical regions and include 2 large cosmopolitan genera, Hydroptila Dalman with about 400 described species and Oxyethira with about 200. Orthotrichiini is a small tribe of 3 genera, of which Orthotrichia is cosmopolitan and contains over 150 species. Stactobiini is a heterogeneous assemblage of genera endemic to a single region or more broadly distributed across several regions; Stactobia is the most species rich with about 150 species found only in the Old World. Nielsen (1948) studied the biology of Hydroptilidae. Hydroptilid larvae are highly diverse in form, habitat, and feeding behavior. Although most construct cases of silk or sand, some construct flat, fixed shelters, while others remain free-living until pupation. Many genera remain unknown in the larval stage. The family is the terra incognita of Trichoptera (Flint 1992b)."
Ivanov,VD; Melnitsky,SI and Perkovsky,EE 2016 Caddisflies from Cenozoic resins of Europe. Paleontological Journal, 50(5), pp.485-493.
Abstract: "Analysis of the available data on the findings and taxonomical structure of caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera) in the Cenozoic fossil resins of Europe shows that there are four European amber regions (Baltic, Rovno, Saxonian, and Danish) are characterized by a relatively abundant trichopteran fauna, comprising 27 families, 72 genera, and 256 species. These faunas show the dominance of Psychomyioidea (families Polycentropodidae, Psychomyiidae, and Ecnomidae) with Polycentropodidae comprising up to 75% of all records. The amber faunas are second in the dominance of Polycentropodidae only to the terminal Eocene of Florissant (84% of Polycentropodidae). No modern caddisfly species have been found. The amber regions are significantly different in the species composition of Trichoptera although the generic and family structures are similar. Comparison with the modern faunas of Europe shows the absence of advanced Limnephilidae, which are characteristic of the Holocene faunas of Europe, and the rarity of recently abundant Hydropsychidae and Hydroptilidae. The overall composition of amber Trichoptera suggests that it is structurally related to the faunas of Caucasus and Southeastern Asia and might be evidence of seasonally low-contrast (equable) climate in the Late Eocene of Europe."
Keiper,JB 1998 Biology, larval feeding habits, and resource partitioning by microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). PhD THesis Kent State University.
Selected paragraphs from the Introduction on pages 3 and 4: "Microcaddisflies (Hydroptilidae) represent a speciose family of aquatic insects, with some 311 speceis recorded from North AMerica (Morse 1993). Species new to science from diverse geographic localities are continually being described (e.g., Oláh 1989, Holzenthal and Harris 1992, Botosaneanu 1995, Wells 1995, Harris and Sykora 1996, Houp et al. 1998). Despite notable species richness, few studies of their biology , immature stages, and ecology have been conducted (Wiggins 1996a, b).
In addition to thier species-rich nature (they are the second largest family of North American Trichoptera as measured by the number of known pecies). microcaddisflies are unusual among aquatic insects in several other respects. As the name implies, they are among the smallest aquatic insect, the adults measuring usually less than 6 mm long. The minute larvae (<1mm) hatch from eggs and exhibit five stadia; however, the first four instars do not construct cases or fixed retreats, and normally move freely on bethic substrates. Samples collected ANderson (1967b) illstrated that larvae of Hydroptila rono Ross were abundant in the drift component of samples taken from an Oregon stream. There are no published reports of planktonic larvae, although Orthotrichia aegerfasciella (Chambers) has been collected from artificial substrates suspended in the littoral zone of a northeastern Ohio lake (J.B. Keiper, pers. obs.). Only upon reaching the fifth instar do larvae construct portable cases or fixed retreats. Another unique feature of microcaddisfly biology is that the early instars exhibit hypermetamorphosis (larval heterometamorphosis). This is a condition of rapid larval development, coupled with a change in larval morphology during the life cycle (Borror et al. 1989). Often, the first four stadia of hydroptilid species are completed quickly, wheras most larval grouth is attained during the longer-duration fifth stadium; the first four instars are dorsoventrally flattened wheras the final instar is roughly circular in cross section (Nielsen 1948, Lepneva 1964, Ito and Kawamura 1980, McAuliffe 1981, Wells, 1985, Resh and hou 1986, Wiggins 1996a). The rapid growth exhibited by the early instars and the shift in larval morphology in Hydroptilidae was first catagorized as hypermetamorphosis by Needham (1902). Although normally reserved to describe the rapid development of parasitic insects, hyper metamophosis is considered an appropriate description of the typical hydroptilid life cycle (Nielsen 1948, Wiggins 1996a).
Life history studies of the Hydroptilidae are few, and generalizations of larval feeding behavior are based on observations of a small proportion of known species. Most appear to be associated with filamentous green algae (Chlorophyta) (Nielsen 1948, Ito and Kawamura 1980, Dudley et al. 1986, Houghton and Stewart 1998, Keiper et al. 1998b, Keiper and Foote 1998) or diatomaceous (Chrysophyta) substrates (Percival and Whitehead 1929, Neilsen 1948, and Hilsenhoff 1976, McAuliffe 1981, Hart 1985a, Wiggins 1996a, b). Those consuming diatoms either scrape riffle rocks while moving along benthic substrates, or, in the case of Leucotrichia pictipes (Banks) and Zumatrichia sp., harvest diatoms from territories around fixed retreats (McAuliffe 1981, Hart 1985a, Wiggins 1996a). Consumers of filamentous green algae exhibit fasciating behaviors; they pierce the walls of individual cells and consume their contents. This behavior has been documented in Hydroptilla (Nielsen 1948, Keiper et al. 1998b, Ochrotrichia (Keiper and Foote 1998), Orthotrichia (Nielsen 1948), and Oxyethira (Nielsen 1948, Keiper et al. 1998b)."
Keiper,JB and Foote,BA 1996 A simple rearing chamber for lotic insect larvae. Hydrobiologia 337:137-139.
MacKay,RJ and Wiggins,GB 1979 Ecological diversity in Trichoptera. Ann. Rev. Ent. 24: 185- 208.
Marshall,JE 1979 A review of the genera of the Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology, 39, 135-239.
Mosely,ME 1919. Scent-organs in the genus Hydroptila (Trichoptera). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 1919:393-397, plates 18-19.
Mosely,ME 1924. Scent-organs in the genus Hydroptila (Trichoptera). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 1923:291-294, plates 14-15.
Nielsen,A 1948 Postembryonic development and biolgy of the Hydroptilidae: A contribution to the phylogeny of the caddis flies and to the question of the origin of the case-building instinct. Det KonGeLige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab 5 (1)203 pages.
Rocha,IC; Nessimian,JL and Santos,AP 2025 Systematics, divergence dating and historical biogeography of Ochrotrichiinae (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) based on morphological and molecular data. Systematic Entomology, 50(4), pp.1005-1024. PDF
Abstract: "Hydroptilidae are the most diverse family of Trichoptera, with over 2600 species. As currently defined, Ochrotrichiinae comprise around 430 species in nine genera. The subfamily is well represented in the Neotropics, with some representatives in the Nearctic and Australasian regions, including a genus endemic to New Caledonia. We present here phylogenetic analyses based on 109 morphological characters and DNA sequences of five gene fragments: cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI; 654 bp), carbamoylphosphate synthetase (823 bp), the 1α subunit of elongation factor (375 bp), RNA polymerase-II (768 bp) and the ribosomal subunit 28S rRNA, domain 1 (343 bp). The combined matrix included 89 species and 3072 characters of all nine Ochrotrichiinae genera as well as representatives of outgroups of the other hydroptilid subfamilies and a glossosomatid species. Molecular data was obtained for 74 species (at least one gene fragment). All Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood analyses performed strongly support a monophyletic Ochrotrichiinae with the exclusion of Dibusa Ross, which was recovered among Stactobiinae taxa. The first diversification of Ochrotrichiinae was estimated for the early Cretaceous, around 116 million years ago (Ma) and the ancestral distribution range was the New World. The Australian lineage is probably the result of trans-Antarctic dispersal, with the split between Ochrotrichia Mosely and the Australasian Caledonotrichia Sykora + Maydenoptila Neboiss estimated at around 98 Ma. The endemic Caledonotrichia is likely a result of a recent dispersal event from Australia, with initial diversification around 51 Ma, in line with current understanding of re-emergence of Grande Terre and availability of habitats around 60 Ma onwards."
Roemhild,G 1980 Pheromone glands of microcaddisflies, (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). Journal of Morphology 163 (1) 9-12. Abstract
Roemhild,G 1982 The Trichoptera of Montana with distributional and ecological notes. Northwest Science 56: 8-13.
Ross,HH 1938 Descriptions of Nearctic Caddisflies. Bulletin of the Illinois Natural History Survey 21:101-183. PDF
Ross describes two of our local species in this paper: Hydroptila ajax and Hydroptila argosa.
Ross,HH 1941 Descriptions and records of North American Trichoptera. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 67:35-126.
Describes Ochrotrichia logana in the genus Polytrichia.
Ross,HH 1944 The Caddis Flies, or Trichoptera, of Illinois. Natural History Survey of Illinois 23 Los Angeles, CA. 326 pages.
Ross describes Neotrichia osmena among other caddisflies in this book.
Ruiter,DE 1990 A new species of Neotrichia (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Colorado with additions and corrections to the distribution and records of Colorado Trichoptera. Entomological News 101(2):88-92
Stanford,JA and Ward,JV 1985 The effects of regulation on the limnology of the Gunnison River: A North American case history. In: Regulated Rivers. Eds: Lillehammer,A; Saltveit,S Universitetsforlaget As., Oslo, Norway, 467-480.
Stephens,JF 1836 Illustrations of British entomology (Mandibulata). 6. Printed for the author by Baldwin and Cradock. 240 pages.
First described the microcaddisfly family Hydroptilidae.
Thomson,RE 2023 Catalog of the Hydroptilidae (Insecta, Trichoptera). ZooKeys, 1140, p.1. PDF
Abstract: "The microcaddisfly (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) fauna is catalogued from a review of more than 1,300 literature citations through the end of 2020 to include 2,665 currently recognized, valid species in six subfamilies and 76 genera. Fourteen subspecies are included in the total as well as 23 fossil species and three fossil genera. The family Ptilocolepidae (Trichoptera), also covered in this catalogue, comprises 19 valid species in two genera; two subspecies and two fossil species are included in the total. The monotypic genus Eutonella, currently considered incertae sedis within Trichoptera, was formerly placed in Hydroptilidae and is also included in this catalogue. Genus-group and species-group synonyms are listed. Information on the type locality, type depository, sex of type, distribution by country, and other relevant taxonomic or biological information is included for each nominal species. Summary information on taxonomy, phylogeny, distribution, immature stages, and biology are provided for each subfamily, tribe, and genus where known. An index to all nominal taxa is provided to facilitate catalog use."
Thomson,RE; Frandsen,PB and Holzenthal,RW 2022 A preliminary molecular phylogeny of the family Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera): an exploration of combined targeted enrichment data and legacy sequence data. ZooKeys, 1111, pp.467-488. PDF
Abstract: "Hydroptilidae is an extremely diverse family within Trichoptera, containing over 2,600 known species, that displays a wide array of ecological, morphological, and habitat diversity. However, exploration into the evolutionary history of microcaddisflies based on current phylogenetic methods is mostly lacking. The purpose of this study is to provide a proof-of-concept that the use of molecular data, particularly targeted enrichment data, and statistically supported methods of analysis can result in the construction of a stable phylogenetic framework for the microcaddisflies. Here, a preliminary exploration of the hydroptilid phylogeny is presented using a combination of targeted enrichment data for ca. 300 nuclear protein-coding genes and legacy (Sanger-based) sequence data for the mitochondrial COI gene and partial sequence from the 28S rRNA gene."
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Assessment Data Warehouse (NAWQA) shows this family is present in Gunnison County. Data as of 1Sep2005
Weaver III,JS and Morse,JC 1986 Evolution of feeding and case-making behavior in Trichoptera. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 5(2) 150-158. PDF
Abstract: "A phylogeny of the families of Trichoptera is reviewed to provide a basis for understanding the probable evolution of feeding tactics and case or retreat constructions by larvae. At least 48 hierarchically inclusive homologues are known, mostly from larval, pupal, and adult morphology. Their resulting phylogeny indicates that Rhyacophilidae, Hydrobiosidae, Glossosomatidae, and Hydroptilidae are more closely related to Philopotamidae, Hydropsychidae, and their allies than to Limnephilidae, Leptoceridae, and their allies. This phylogeny implies that the ancestral caddisfly larva was probably a tube-dwelling detritivore, inhabiting humus and detrital mats near the shores of lentic or lotic-depositional habitats. This ancestor evolved into a tube-case-making detritivore and scraper in the ancestor of Integripalpia and into a retreat-making collector-gatherer in the ancestor of Annulipalpia. All other larval feeding and case-making tactics evolved from these ancestral habits."
Wichard,W 2021 Overview of the caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Cretaceous Research, 119, p.104707.
Abstract: "The study of caddisflies in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is still in its infancy, it being too early to get more than a preliminary overview of the Trichoptera fauna. With description here of two new and significant taxa, Cretacoptila botosaneanui gen. et sp. nov. and Electrocentropus dilucidus gen. et sp. nov. a total of 34 named species are listed, distributed among 10 families. Several taxonomic changes are made: two established species are transferred to more-appropriate genera, becoming Neucentropus macularis (Wang et al., 2019) comb. nov. and Myanpsyche malaisei (Wichard & Wang, 2019) comb. nov.; a new extinct subfamily † Burminoptilinae subfamily nov. is proposed in the family Hydroptilidae and two extinct families, † Burmapsychidae fam. nov. and † Cretapsychidae fam. nov., are proposed for the superfamily Sericostomatoidea.
The small size of adults of many of these species is remarkable. With their 2-4 mm length forewings they are smaller than their next relatives in the Baltic Amber and even much smaller than their present representatives. Thus, not only are the hydroptilids "microcaddisflies", but also philopotamids of the genus Wormaldia and psychomyiids of the extinct genus Palerasnitsynus, which, being the most common caddisflies in Burmese amber, apparently tended to swarm."
Wichard,W and Pankowski,MV 2024 A new species of helicopsychid caddisfly (Insecta, Trichoptera) in Baltic amber, based on a male with remarkable androconial head organs. Palaeodiversity, 17(1), pp.1-8. PDF
Introduction: "1. A wide array of male insects have androconial organs that produce chemicals used to attract females in courtship. These organs are located on various parts of the body in different insects. However, it is quite rare to find a male helicopsychid species with androconial organs on the head. Besides the new extinct species, Palaeohelicopsyche marki sp. nov., few other fossil helicopsychid species with these extraordinary structures are known from Baltic amber. In recent helicopsychids, similar tubes appear to be unknown, though Helicopsyche coreana Mey, 1991 from North Korea was reported to have a "head with small ovoid tubercles and two paired, membranous appendages on the dorsal side," which were later referred to as "dorsal branch of median postantennal warts" by Johanson (1998). No other fossil caddisflies with similar tubular structures are currently documented. In recent caddisflies such tubes are almost unknown; only in Hydroptila (Hydroptilidae) and in Caloca (Calocidae) are comparable structures present (Mosely and Kimmins 1953).
The description of the new extinct species is followed by a discussion of the tubular organs based on our present knowledge."
Wiggins, GB 1996 Larvae of the North American Caddisfly Genera (Trichoptera). 2nd Edition. University of Toronto Press, 457 pages.
Wiggins, GB and Wichard, W 1989 Phylogeny of pupation in Trichoptera, with proposals on the origin and higher classification of the order. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 8: 260-276.
Zuellig,RE; Kondratieff,BC and Rhodes,HA 2002 Benthos recovery after an episodic sediment release into a Colorado Rocky Mountain river. Western North American Naturalist 62 (1) 59-72.
Abstract: "During late September 1996, approximately 7000 m3 of clay- to gravel-sized sediment was flushed from Halligan Reservoir, Larimer County, Colorado, into the North Fork Cache la Poudre River during dam inspections. Approximately 9.6 km of this river was partially or completely affected by this episodic sediment release. Pools up to 3.2 km downstream from the dam lost 50% of their volume. Hess samples taken from October 1996 to September 1997, 100 m downstream from the dam (site 1) and 3.2 km downstream (site 2), revealed effects of sediment on recovery patterns of benthic communities. A 2-way ANOVA was used to determine significant interactions using site and date as main factors. Pairwise differences were then compared using least squares means to determine significant dates within and between sites. Ten days after the sediment release, both density and taxa richness at site 1 (55 organisms per m2 , 5 taxa) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than site 2 (1156 organisms per m2 , 25 taxa). These differences remained until June when species richness and densities increased. Plecoptera and Trichoptera colonized from June to September after being eliminated at site 1 and reduced at site 2. No permanently flowing tributaries exist within the study area; therefore, passive downstream drift from such inputs apparently did not influence recovery. Increased densities of taxa such as Baetidae, Hydroptilidae, Hydropsychidae, Chironomidae, Simuliidae, and Oligochaeta occurred plausibly by rapid reproduction. Based on pre-event data, community function completely changed at site 2 from a scraper community to one dominated by collector-gatherers."
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