Order?
I was teaching some orders of aquatic insects along Little River in Van Damme state park (redwood forest; about 1 mile inland from ocean ; Mendocino County) And we saw this black insect. I am embarrassed that I couldn’t even figure out the order. The wings did not look like they had scales.
Thanks!
Teresa Sholars
Professor of Biological Sciences
Science Coordinator
Mendocino Coast Campus
College of the Redwoods
Hi Teresa,
We wish your photo was more detailed. We believe this to be a Caddisfly, Order Trichoptera. Renowned lepidopterist and Mt. Washington neighbor Julian Donahue just confirmed our identification. Here is what he has to say: “Nice website! I’ve actually been there before, and had already bookmarked it! I just never knew that you were a neighbor. And you’re correct about the caddisfly, although I can’t tell you what family it is.”
¶ Posted 01 May 2006 § ‡ ° strange bug
Hi, I hope this photo is enough for you to help me. I found this bug in some pond water and thought at first it was a small hollow stem but then the stem moved around, looking closely I could see legs coming out of the straw. It stretched out many times but then went back into the stem, like a hermit crab. Can you tell what it is? Thanks,
Sue MacMillan
Adelaide, South Australia.
Hi Sue,
What a wonderful image of a Caddisfly Larva. Caddisflies are in the order Trichoptera. The larvae are aquatic and build homes for protection. Each species has a distinct type of home. Some like yours, use hollow sticks. Others cement sticks or pebbles or shells together.
trying to identify this strange bug
Hello
My 6 yr old discovered this “pupa” while on vacation at her grandmother’s in the BC interior. She was on a creek at the time. Here is a photo.
Monique
Hi Monique,
This is a Caddisfly Larva. Adult Caddisflies resemble moths. The larvae are aquatic and are called Caddisworms. Many species construct portable cases around their bodies which later become pupal shelters. Sticks, small pebbles and other materials can form the basis of the case. Each species has a distinct type of case with specific building materials.
what’s this bug
Hi, any idea what this bug is? i found it nearby a stream channel. it’s not in my field guide. thanks so much. great web site.
Rebecca McCue
Hi Rebecca,
This is a species of Caddisfly, Order Trichoptera. They resemble moths and are poor fliers. Larvae are aquatic and the larvae build homes by cementing sticks and stones together, forming a tube which is used as protection as well as camoflauge. There are over 1000 species in North America. Sorry I can’t give you an exact species.
¶ Posted 11 May 2005 § ‡ ° playground bugs [part 2]
Dear BUGMAN,
Thank you for writing back to us! WE LOVE YOUR SITE!!!!!
We are sending two medium sized photos of our Caddisfly [we thought the other photo we sent might be too small to be seen on the site]. We hope they help others! We also included our favorite stag beetle photo and praying mantis photo [it stayed on the wall next to our classroom door for days! We think it was listening in!] Thank you again for your help!
Always looking for bugs, Fours and fives in PA
Dear Fours and Fives in PA,
Thank you for the additonal photos. We are posting them immediately.
¶ Posted 01 November 2004 § ‡ ° What are these playground bugs?
Hello!
We are so happy to have found your web site! We are a class of 4 and 5 year olds in PA. We take photos of bugs everyday but then we have no clue what they are. We used the photos on your site to identify some of the bugs we have photographed. Like the Wheel Bug that visited us last week. The second photo is of a bug we have not named yet so hopefully we can start off calling it the proper name. We like its funny "nose". Obviously we REALLY need a bug encyclopedia! THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!
Fours and Fives in PA
Dear four and five year olds,
I’m so happy to see you are budding entomologists. Your other insect is a Caddisfly. They are members of the order Trichoptera that begin life as aquatic larvae. The larvae construct homes from sticks and tiny pebbles which are cemented togethe, acting as both protection and camouflage. The larvae are sometimes called Caseworms.
¶ Posted 11 October 2004 § ‡ ° 
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