THE CADDIS FLIES 



(Order Trichoptera.) 



Almost everyone who likes to watch curious living creatures 

 knows the caddis worms — the strange little larvae which con- 

 struct cases of bits of leaves, twigs, small stones, or sand, and 

 which live under the water of permanent streams or ponds. 

 They are very good objects for the aquarium, and are struc- 

 turally of great interest. While the case-bearing larvae are so 

 well known, it is quite different with the adult insects, which 



Fig. 114. — Caddis fly and larva. 

 (From Lugger.) 



not only are seldom seen in collections, but have been studied to 

 a comparatively slight extent in this country. They have four 

 wings, which are more or less clothed with hairs, so that the 

 caddis flies look very much like moths. The mouth-parts are 

 rudimentary, and the antennae are thread-like, frequently very 

 long and many-jointed. The pupae resemble the perfect insects 

 in general appearance, and become active before the last molt. 

 The hind wings of the flies are often broader than the fore- 

 wings, and may be folded in repose. 



19s 



