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Guide to New Zealand's freshwater invertebrates
Free-living caddis
(
Hydrobiosidae
: Hydrobiosis
)
Diagnostic features
The New Zealand hydrobiosid caddis larvae have pincers on their forelegs. Several of the common hydrobiosid species belong to the genus Hydrobiosis. Depending on the species, the prosternal plate (shield-like structure between the forelegs) may be a single, roughly square plate (e.g. H. parumbripennis and H. centralis), or divided into 3 pieces (e.g. H. clavigera and H. silvicola).
Typical habitats
Hydrobiosis larvae are common in stony streams all over New Zealand, in bush-covered and farmland areas.
Feeding
They are predators, feeding on other stream invertebrates.
Indicator value
Hydrobiosis larvae can be common in streams with moderate to good water quality. They have mid-range tolerance values of 5 (hard bottom sites) and 6.7 (soft bottom sites).
