Trichoptera of Gunnison County, ColoradoIntroduction to the Caddisfly family Leptoceridae
Longhorned Case Makers Leach in Brewster, 1815
Updated 20 February 2026
TSN 116547
Leptoceridae larvae have very long antennae, thus the common name "Longhorned Case Makers". Oecetis larvae also have exceptionally long maxillary palps, which add to the long-horned look of the larvae. The larvae also have much longer hind legs than the fore or middle legs. They have single abdominal gills.
Species List
Oecetis inconspicua
Ylodes reuteri
Good Links
Other Websites:
Photos, Map, Taxon Identifier Numbers - from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Leptoceridae at GBIF
Photos, Map, Museums, DNA - Barcode of Life Data System
family Overview - University of Alberta Entomology Collection family page
Has habitat, identification, life history, conservation and more.
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 page 570: "The family Leptoceridae (or the long-horned caddisflies), with more than 1500 species, is the second-largest caddisfly family (Morse 2020). In North America, 123 species of Leptoceridae have been reported (Rasmussen and Morse 2021). Three leptocerid species are recorded from montane and alpine lentic habitats in northern Colorado. The Nearctic Mystacides interjectus (Banks, 1914) was recorded and collected from a few lakes in Boulder, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, and Larimer counties from 1938 to 2020. Mystacides longicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) is considered Nearctic and was recorded from one lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, in 1939. The geographically widespread and common inconspicuous long-horned caddisfly, Oecetis inconspicua, was recorded from 2 locations in Boulder and Larimer counties in 1994 and 1995 (Table 1, Supplementary Material 1), but these specimens likely represent one of several undescribed cryptic species (Chen 1993)."
Baranov,V; Hammel,J; Gröhn,C and Haug,JT 2023 Unique fossils of caddisfly larvae from Baltic amber and in situ amber formation in aquatic ecosystems. PDF
Abstract: "Amber is formed by tree resins in terrestrial habitats. Therefore, a preservation of animals living in water in amber may appear surprising. Still more and more finds of such animals were reported in recent years. The central question around these finds is, whether the animals became entrapped in the resin in their original habitat (in situ), or whether the aquatic animals have left their original habitat to become entrapped in the resin (ex situ). We report additional finds of caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera; Leptoceridae, Lepidostomatidae) in Baltic amber. Two of these still bear their cases, which should not be present for caddisfly larvae, which escaped the waterbodies and became entrapped ex situ. One of the two is preserved with additional caddisfly larvae as well as a larva of a seemingly aquatic non-biting midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) attached to its caddis case. These finds further support a possible in situ preservation of aquatic animals in amber."
Chen,YE 1993 Revision of the Oecetis (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) of the world. Doctoral dissertation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. 694 pp. PDF
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."
Hauer,FR; Stanford,JA; Ward,JV 1989 Serial discontinuities in a Rocky Mountain river. II. Distribution and abundance of Trichoptera. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 3, 177-182.
Leach,WE 1815, in Brewster's Edinburg Encyclopedia 9(1) Entomology pp 52-172.
Leach describes the caddis family Leptoceridae on page 136.
Mebane,CA; Schmidt,TS; Miller,JL and Balistrieri,LS 2020 Bioaccumulation and toxicity of cadmium, copper, nickel, and zinc and their mixtures to aquatic insect communities. Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 39(4) 812-833. PDF
Merrill,D 1969 The distribution of case recognition in ten families of caddis larvae (Trichoptera). Animal Behavior 17(3)486-493.
Morse,JC 1981 A phylogeny and classification of family group taxa of Leptoceridae(Trichoptera:). Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Trichoptera, Perugia, 1980, G.P. Moretti (ed.),pp 257-264. The Hague: Junk.
Ross,HH 1938 Descriptions of nearctic caddis flies (Trichoptera) with special reference to the Illinios species. Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 21 (4) 101-183.
Ross,HH 1944 The Caddis Flies, or Trichoptera, of Illinois. Natural History Survey of Illinois, Los Angeles, CA. 326 pages.
Srayko,SH; Mihalicz,JE; Jardine,TD; Phillips,ID and Chivers,DP 2023 Overwintering capacity of water boatmen (Hemiptera: Corixidae) and other invertebrates encased in the ice of shallow prairie wetlands. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 101(6), pp.434-447. PDF
Abstract: "Overwintering in shallow habitats presents a serious obstacle for aquatic invertebrates. Here we investigated the little-known ability of water boatmen (Hemiptera: Corixidae), an aquatic insect, to survive the winter encased in air pockets within the ice of shallow wetlands. We extracted and experimentally thawed large blocks of ice from prairie wetlands in Saskatchewan, Canada, from which we examined the species composition and revival of corixids. While multiple corixid species were present in wetlands prior to freeze-up, a single species, Cymatia americana Hussey, 1920, comprised the vast majority of corixids that were found within the ice later in winter. Only 4%-9% of corixids, all Cymatia americana, revived after ice thawing over both study years. Being encased within an air pocket appeared to be necessary for the survival of corixids in the ice, with up to 300 individuals grouped together. Other invertebrate taxa also revived after thawing, including Haliplidae and Dytiscidae (Coleoptera) encased within air pockets both alongside corixids and on their own, as well as Coenagrionidae (Odonata), Phryganeidae and Leptoceridae (Trichoptera), Chironomidae (Diptera), and Physidae and Planorbidae (Basommatophora), which appeared to be encased in solid ice. The ability to overwinter inside ice represents a little understood survival mechanism of aquatic invertebrates in shallow wetlands, which could confer energetic and reproductive advantages to those that endure until spring."
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."
|