56 
THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST 
BOOK REVIEW 
Larvae of the North American Caddisfly Genera — Glenn B. Wiggins, 
University of Toronto Press, Toronto and Buffalo, ISBN-0-8020-5344. 
0/63/4 x 93/4/$25.00 Illustrated/ 410 pp /1977. 
Approximately 1200 species of Trichoptera have been described from the Nearctic 
region, but about 70% of these species are known only from the adult stage. This has 
hampered both ecological and taxonomic studies on caddisflies, particularly in the 
Western United States where little work has been published on larval-adult associations 
or on taxonomic keys to the immatures stages. 
This treatise on the larval stages of North American caddisflies is the result of several 
years work in which over 350 larval-adult associations were made, 200 of these for the first 
time. Larvae have now been associated for all but 6 of the 142 genera the author recog¬ 
nizes (genera known to occur north of the Mexican border and excluding the Caribbean 
Islands). Diagnostic characters are given for 24 genera for the first time. 
Dr. Wiggins considers this book “a reference work” to the "identity, structure, and bio¬ 
logy of North American caddisfly genera,” and "a stage in the evolution of such a refer¬ 
ence.” The 18 families the author recognizes are arranged alphabetically as are the genera 
in each family. Preceding the systematic section (the major portion of the book) several 
chapters are devoted to "Classification and Phylogeny”; "Biological Considerations” 
(habitat diversity, respiration, feeding, case-making, life cycles); "Morphology” (the larval 
characters here are exceptionally well illustrated); and "Techniques” (collecting, rearing, 
preserving larvae). 
Following a larval key to the Trichoptera families in North America, each chapter is de¬ 
voted to one family, including a general overview of the systematics, morphology, and 
ecology of the group, and a key to the genera. Each genus is treated under the headings 
of “Distribution and Species”; "Morphology”; "Case”; "Biology”; and “Remarks”; which 
includes a 2 page layout with text and a full page illustration which generally includes 
figures of the entire larva, head and thorax, key taxonomic characters, and case. The ex¬ 
cellent quality of the figures by Anker Odum attests to his fame as a scientific illustrator. 
There are interesting tidbits of natural history information throughout the book which 
suggest fascinating research projects for undergraduates and graduate students such as 
the broad temperature tolerances of many species, unique case-making behavior of 
others, and the complicated life cycles of temporary pond species. The literature cita¬ 
tions include the most pertinent references. The book is free of typographical errors and 
is very well indexed, including a boldface type designation for the principal reference. 
This book is a must for all freshwater biologists, ecologists, and entomologists with 
and interest in aquatic insects. Dr. Wiggins’ work should provide an impetus for further 
species level work on this fascinating group of animals. It is appropriate that this work is 
dedicated to Professor Herbert H. Ross, whose 1944 classic “The Caddis Flies, or Tri¬ 
choptera, of Illinois,” has been the cornerstone of Trichoptera research in North Amer¬ 
ica. Dr. Wiggins’ work follows this tradition of excellent quality in every respect. — Donald 
G. Denning and Vincent H. Resh. 
