| Caddisflies
live in tubes or cases they construct from sand, pebbles, pieces of leaves,
and wood. As they move around, they drag the case with them with only their
front legs sticking out. The caddisfly makes its house all by itself. It
spits out a silky substance that holds its house together. It prefers to
use the building materials of its ancestors. If these materials are not
available, it can adapt. In fact, put it in a tank with only broken glass
on the bottom, it will build a glass house. |
The caddisfly carries around its
house as it feeds. The caddisfly puts twigs and reeds sticking out of
his house like a tail to make it a lighter load to walk with.
They grow up to 1 and a half
inches.They have six segmented legs on the upper middle of their
body.
|
They
eat algae, plants and microorganisms. |
| Some caddisflies
are called netspinning caddisflies. They spin nets that capture
their food. Instead of going out and capturing their food, they
use their nets. The water current brings all sorts of bits of
food right through their nets. |
Free living
caddisflies are caddisflies that do not live in cases. Instead,
they move around and live without houses. That is why they are
called free living caddisflies, because they live freely. |
Free living
caddisflies have jaws and sharp pinchers that make them look
like a hellgrammites that have sharp pinchers to get their food. |
