a caddis fly

Name: a caddis fly

Scientific name: Trichoptera

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 40

What are nature stars?

About: Caddis fly larvae live underwater, where they famously make cases out of bits of stone or twig to live in. Adults are often attracted to moth traps, or can be found on vegetation near to the water's edge. There are almost 200 species of Caddis Fly in the UK, the largest of which is more than 3cm long.

How to identify: Adult Caddis Flies resemble moths, but with their wings folded back along the body and with very long antennae.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 30
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 20
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: One species, Enoicyla pusilla, differs from all the others in having a larvae that lives not under the water but amongst leaf litter in woods in the West Midlands! This gives it its common name, the Terrestrial Caddis Fly

Photograph credit: Mick E. Talbot