Orkin Exterminator & Termite Control

Caddisflies are not actually flies. Flies belong to the order Diptera.  Caddisflies belong to the order Trichoptera.   Adult caddisflies are terrestrial, while larvae are aquatic and can be found in lakes, rivers, streams and other freshwater sources. Caddisflies form a very significant part of freshwater food chains and the presence of these insects typically indicates that an aquatic ecosystem is healthy. 

Like many other insects, the life cycle of the caddisfly is comprised of four stages: egg, larval, pupal and adult. After mating, the female caddisfly skims the surface of a water source and deposits her eggs in strand-like formations. These eggs are a bright green in color and sink to the bottom.

Eggs eventually hatch into caddisfly larvae. Caddisfly larvae are grub-like in appearance and feed on detritus within the bodies of water they inhabit. Caddisfly larvae create strands of silk from their salivary glands. After feeding, caddisfly larvae begin to form casings used in the pupal stage. These cases are constructed of small rocks, twigs and other gathered materials. Adult caddisflies are similar in appearance to moths. They have minimized mandibles and well developed compound eyes. Although they live on land, adult caddisflies typically inhabit areas near freshwater sources in order to ease breeding processes.