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Free-living caddis

Guide to New Zealand's freshwater invertebrates

Free-living caddis ( Hydrobiosidae : Neurochorema )

Pale spots on Neurochorema confusum

Diagnostic features

The New Zealand hydrobiosid caddis larvae have pincers on their forelegs. Neurochorema larvae tend to have a relatively small head with dark pigmentation running length-wise along the top of the head, sometimes with a pale midline. The prosternal plate (shield-like plate between the forelegs) is slightly wider than long. The common N. confusum has pale spots on the sides of each abdominal segment.

Typical habitats

Neurochorema larvae can be common in bush-covered and farmland stony streams.

Feeding

They are predators, feeding on other stream invertebrates.

Indicator value

Neurochorema are found in streams of moderate to good water quality. They have tolerance values of 6 for both hard bottom and soft bottom sites.