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Bug of the Month April 2020: Caddisfly Larva from the UK

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Subject:  Spikybugs in garden pond
Geographic location of the bug:  Norfolk, United Kingdom
Date: 03/23/2020
Time: 08:29 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hello, At first I thought these creatures were pieces of pond weed. However, on observing them for 10 minutes or so, I see they are ALIVE and they appear to be interacting with each other.  The are located in one small part of a garden pond. They appear to have a sucker on one end. I replaced the bug in the photo back in the pond! Thank you for any help in identification.
How you want your letter signed:  Jo

Caddisfly Larva

Dear Jo,
This is the larva of a Caddisfly, an aquatic naiad that will eventually metamorphose into a flying insect that somewhat resembles a moth.  Caddisfly larvae construct a shelter from twigs, shells, pebbles, and other debris, and different species of Caddisflies construct different types of cases.  This image on Ed Brown Wildlife and Nature Photography looks exactly like your individual.  We are making your submission our Bug of the Month for April 2020.

Hello Daniel,
Thank you so much for this information – and so quickly!  I’m sure our caddis flies will be honoured to feature as your Bug of the Month!
Your site is wonderful. I’m just about to buy the Kindle version of your book, which I must get through Amazon UK, as US Amazon will not accept an order from my UK account.
Here’s wishing you and all concerned at What’s That Bug? the best of health in these difficult times.  And many thanks again for the information.
Kind regards,
Jo

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Do Caddisflies have a bad odor?

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Subject:  Identify Bug Please
Geographic location of the bug:  Keene, NH USA
Date: 11/06/2019
Time: 04:13 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  All I know is it gives off an awfule scent. What kind of bug is it and where is the scent coming from?
How you want your letter signed:  Frank F

Caddisfly

Dear Frank,
This is a Caddisfly, an insect with an aquatic nymph, so Caddisflies are generally found near a source of water.  We cannot ever recall any scent when we have encountered Caddisflies, nor can we recall reading about strong smells associated with Caddisflies, so we tried to research the matter.  There is no mention of an odor emanating from the insects in the Central Arizona Project page on Caddisflies nor is there a mention of an odor on the Encyclopaedia Britannica page.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Caddisfly

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Subject:  Bugs all over the house
Geographic location of the bug:  Upstate, SC
Date: 04/16/2019
Time: 05:33 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Our neighbors and I are trying to figure out what type of bug this is. They have recently exploded in our neighborhood and we’ve never seen them before.
How you want your letter signed:  Confused new home owner

Caddisfly

Dear Confused new home owner,
You have no cause for concern.  Do you live near a body of water?  This is a Caddisfly.  Caddisflies have aquatic larvae that are known as Caseworms that are used as bait by many fishermen. 

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Zebra Caddisfly

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Subject:  Need Help to Identify this Insect
Geographic location of the bug:  Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
Date: 01/13/2019
Time: 01:58 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Hello,
I have been unable to find any insect anywhere on the internet that looks like the one that I photographed in Lanark County, Ontario, Canada, in June of 2018. It is on the leaf of a Sumac tree, if that helps to determine approximate size.
Appreciate any assistance you can provide in identifying this insect.
Thank you.
How you want your letter signed:  Stu

Zebra Caddisfly

Dear Stu,
This is a Caddisfly in the order Trichoptera, a group of mostly drab, mothlike insects with aquatic larvae, meaning they are generally found near a source of water where the nymphs are able to develop.  Your individual is very brightly colored, and we quickly identified it on BugGuide as a Zebra Caddisfly, Macrostemum zebratum.  According to BugGuide:  “adults Jun-Jul”, so your sighting was right on schedule.

Zebra Caddisfly

Hi Daniel,
Thank you for the quick identification. It is amazing that, once you have the identity, how many images you can now find on the internet, but beforehand, I couldn’t find any!
Your note that they are generally found close to a source of water was spot on… the Sumac trees were within twenty-five yards of the Mississippi River.
Thanks again,
Stu

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Caddisfly from Austria

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Subject:  Evening Visitor
Geographic location of the bug:  Central Austria
Date: 10/08/2018
Time: 02:24 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Dear Daniel, it’s a cool fall evening here in Austria and I opened my windows just to get a little fresh air. Suddenly, this little fella started circling the overheard lamp. I thought it was a moth based on its behavior, but it landed and it’s clearly not a moth. It’s about 2 inches  long with the antennae. Any idea what it is?
How you want your letter signed:  N. Fritz

Caddisfly

Dear N. Fritz,
This is a Caddisfly in the order Trichoptera, and they really do resemble moths.   Caddisflies have aquatic larvae known as Caseworms that build shelters for themselves from twigs, pebbles or shells with each species making a very specific type of case.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Caseworm or Caddisfly Larva

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Subject:  found in water
Geographic location of the bug:  Minnesota
Date: 02/11/2018
Time: 01:55 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found this bug came up my ice fishing hole looks like it is connected to a stick
How you want your letter signed:  any

Caseworm

Dear Any,
This is the aquatic larva of a Caddisfly, commonly called a Caseworm because the larva constructs a shelter from twigs, pebbles, shells or other materials as a means of protection.  Each species of Caddisfly constructs a different looking shelter.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination