Aquatic insects or water insects live some portion of their life cycle in the water. They feed in the same ways as other insects. Some diving insects, such as predatory diving beetles, can hunt for food underwater where land-living insects cannot compete.
The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most of which can be divided into the suborders Integripalpia and Annulipalpia on the basis of the adult mouthparts. Integripalpian larvae construct a portable casing to protect themselves as they move around looking for food, while annulipalpian larvae make themselves a fixed retreat in which they remain, waiting for food to come to them. The affinities of the small third suborder Spicipalpia are unclear, and molecular analysis suggests it may not be monophyletic. Also called sedge-flies or rail-flies, the adults are small moth-like insects with two pairs of hairy membranous wings. They are closely related to the Lepidoptera which have scales on their wings; the two orders together form the superorder Amphiesmenoptera.
Helicopsychidae are a family of Trichoptera. The name refers to the helix shaped larval cases and they should not be confused with Limnephilidae which sometimes inhabit the snail shells. Their shells range from 6–8 millimetres (0.24–0.31 in) and are crafted from mineral grains. Their typical habitat is in slow-flowing water in ditches. Helicopsychidae larvae have a comb-like anal hook. Helicopsychidae is divided into two extant genera, Rakiura and Helicopsyche, and two fossil genera Electrohelicopsyche and Palaeohelicopsyche. The family contains more than 270 species and are present on all major faunal regions.
The Hydropsychidae are a family-level taxon consisting of net-spinning caddisflies. Hydropsychids are common among much of the world's streams, and a few species occupy the shorelines of freshwater lakes. Larvae of the hydropsychids construct nets at the open ends of their dwellings which are responsible for their "net-spinning caddisfly" common name.
The Ecnomidae are a family of caddisflies comprising 9 genera with a total of 375 species.
Dipseudopsidae is a family of caddisflies in the order Trichoptera. There are about 6 genera and at least 110 described species in Dipseudopsidae.
Ironoquia plattensis, the Platte River caddisfly, is a species of caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae. It is endemic to Nebraska. This species was first described to science in 2000.
Caddisfly silk is silk that is secreted by the silk glands of the caddisfly (Trichoptera), similar to Lepidoptera silkworms. The larvae use silk to hunt and defend themselves. The silk's underwater binding properties are a subject of ongoing scientific research.
Limnephilini is a tribe of northern caddisflies in the family Limnephilidae. There are about 16 genera and at least 300 described species in Limnephilini.
Lepidostoma is a genus of bizarre caddisflies in the family Lepidostomatidae. There are more than 150 described species in Lepidostoma.
Hesperophylax is a genus of northern caddisflies in the family Limnephilidae. There are about seven described species in Hesperophylax.
Brachycentrus is a genus of humpless casemaker caddisflies in the family Brachycentridae. There are at least 30 described species in Brachycentrus.
Chimarra is a genus of little black caddisflies in the family Philopotamidae. There are more than 630 described species in Chimarra.
Dicosmoecus gilvipes is a species of northern caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae. This particular caddisfly is found in and near streams of North America, from northern California and Colorado to British Columbia and as eastern to Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Alberta. D. gilvipes is commonly known as the October Caddis, Autumn Caddis or Giant Orange Sedge, due to their flying presence acknowledged in the Autumn. Caddisflies are known to build cases when they are in larvae stages, to protect themselves from predators, such as dragonflies, salmon and trout. The October Caddisfly is no different and builds their cases out of different organic materials during their five larvae stages.
Wormaldia is a genus of fingernet caddisflies in the family Philopotamidae. There are more than 140 described species in Wormaldia. Fossil species have been described from the Late Cretaceous Burmese amber of Myanmar.
Onocosmoecus is a genus of northern caddisflies in the family Limnephilidae. There are at least three described species in Onocosmoecus.
Phylocentropus is a genus of caddisflies in the family Dipseudopsidae. There are about 17 described species in Phylocentropus.
Conoesucidae is a family of caddisflies in the order Trichoptera. There are about 12 genera and more than 40 described species in Conoesucidae.
Philopotamus montanus, common name yellow spotted sedge, is a species of caddisfly belonging to the family Philopotamidae.
