order
                        
                      
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Adult Beetles”
                                  
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Larval Beetles”
                                  
                                    Diptera
                                       “True Flies”
                                  
                                    Ephemeroptera
                                       “Mayflies”
                                  
                                    Hemiptera
                                       “True Bugs”
                                  
                                    Lepidoptera
                                       “Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
                                  
                                    Megaloptera
                                       “Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
                                  
                                    Odonata
                                       “Dragonflies and Damselflies”
                                  
                                    Plecoptera
                                       “Stoneflies”
                                  
                                    Trichoptera
                                       “Caddisflies”
                                 family
                        
                     Leptoceridae
               
            genus
                        
                     Ceraclea
            
                  “Long-horned Caddisflies”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        Formerly Athripsodes (in part). There are about 36 North American species. The larvae tend to be rather short and wide, especially at the first abdominal segment, and this is reflected in the shapes of their cases as well. The case is made of fine sand grains or plant materials and tends to be wide at the opening and narrower at the posterior end. It sometimes has flanges or wing-like expansions at the sides and over the head, allowing the case to sit on top of loose sand without sinking, much like how snowshoes prevent sinking into deep snow, or to present a low profile on rocks in fast current. Some species are predators of freshwater sponges; these species have silken cases embedded with sponge spicules. Others are herbivores and detritivores. These larvae can be found in lentic or lotic habitats depending on the species. Larvae of this group can be identified by a distinctive pair of dark, reverse-parenthesis-like bars on the mesonotum (concave laterally).
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: 0 - 6.4
                                 Upper Midwest: 3
                                 Midwest: 3.1
                                 Mid-Atlantic: 3
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Collector / Gatherer
Engulfer / Predator
Shredder / Herbivore
                        
                     Engulfer / Predator
Shredder / Herbivore
MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Climber
Sprawler
                        
                     Sprawler
DISTRIBUTION
                        
                                 Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
                        
                     HABITAT
                        
                                 Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
                        
                     Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
               order
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Prolegs With Single Hook
                                 family
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    "Long" Antenna
                                 genus
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Maxillary palpi slightly extended beyond the labrum  
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Mesonotum with a pair of dark, curved bars
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Sandy wide rim case
                                 
                  + Expanded Character List
                  
                     
               
            
                        Order:
                           Larvae: Wings/wing pads absent. Eye spots present, but compound eyes absent. Antennae usually small, inconspicuous. Three pairs of segmented legs present on thorax. Pair of anal prolegs, each with single hook, located on last abdominal segment. Larvae can be free-living, in silken retreats attached to substrate, or in usually-portable tubes or cases made of sand, rocks, or plant material.
                     
                     
                        Family:
                           Antennae usually long for caddisflies, at least 6 times as long as thick. Mesonotum light in color, except sometimes with pair of dark curved lines; these lines present in species with short antennae. Metanotum membranous. Larvae constructing portable tube-shaped cases of various materials and shapes.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Maxillary palps extend little past labrum. Mandibles short and wide, with teeth clustered near apices. Mesonotum with pair of dark, reverse parenthesis (concave laterally); abdomen broad basally but tapering toward apex. Mesothoracic legs with slightly curved and slender tarsal claws. Tarsi straight. Anal opening sometimes with patches of spines or hair. Abdominal gills clustered in groups of 2 or more. Cases of various shapes and materials, sometimes with spicules and pieces of freshwater sponges. 
                     
                   
                   
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Lateral
               Ventral
               Case
               


 
                                                
                                             