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Smooth cased caddis

Guide to New Zealand's freshwater invertebrates

Smooth cased caddis ( Conoesucidae : Olinga )

Black mark behind hind leg

Diagnostic features

Olinga caddis larvae construct smooth mobile cases that lack sand grains (except sometimes in small/young individuals). The aperture of the case is straight (unlike Beraeoptera). The rounded, orange or red head lacks conspicuous hairs (unlike Pycnocentrodes). There is a black mark on the side of the body behind the hind leg (unlike Pycnocentria).

Typical habitats

Olinga larvae are most common in bush covered, cold water, stony streams.

Feeding

They are collector-gatherers (feeding on fine particulate organic matter) and shredders (feeding on leaf litter).

Indicator value

An abundance of Olinga larvae indicates good habitat and water quality, particularly if mayfly and stonefly nymphs are also abundant. They have tolerance values of 9 (hard bottom sites) and 7.9 (soft bottom sites).