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Fauna of Alabama Wetlands - Insects
Trichoptera larva case
Fauna of Alabama Wetlands - Insects |
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Trichoptera larva case photographed by W. Mike Howell, Ronald L. Jenkins, and Invertebrate Field Zoology class, Samford University, on 31 October 2005, at the Cahaba River canoe launch on Old Overton Road, Jefferson County, AL. Trichoptera or caddisflies, a diverse insect order, are almost exclusively aquatic in the larval stage. Their larval cases are found in streams, rivers, and lakes, and are comprised of gelatinous nets or tubes which collect organic debris and microscopic organisms which serve as food for the larvae. The larva are an important source of food for fish. They are commonly found in debris at the bottom of streams or attached to rocks under water. |