Home»
Resources »
Identification »
Animals »
Freshwater invertebrates guide »
Identification guide »
Jointed legs »
Insects and springtails »
Uncased caddisflies »
Net-building caddis

Guide to New Zealand's freshwater invertebrates

Net-building caddis ( Hydropsychidae : Diplectrona )

Trochantin triangular, not forked

Diagnostic features

Hydropsychid caddis larvae have hardened (sclerotised) plates on each of the 3 thoracic segments, and gill tufts under the abdomen. Diplectrona caddis larvae have a more “hairy” appearance than the related Aoteapsyche, and they have 7 sets of abdominal like gills (like Aoteapsyche). In Diplectrona the foreleg trochantin (segment at the base of the leg) has a spine that is not forked, unlike Aoteapsyche.

Typical habitats

Diplectrona larvae are mostly found in bush covered streams in the lower North Island and the South Island.

Feeding

They construct filter-feeding nets attached to the streambed to trap drifting particulate food items.

Indicator value

Diplectrona larvae are most likely to be found in streams with good water quality. They have a tolerance value of 9 for hard bottom sites (there is no soft bottom tolerance value).