CADDISFLIES OF CALDERDALE

Caddisflies are a numerous and ever present mystery to moth trappers up and down the country. They sometimes appear in such numbers that they occasionally tempt even the most dedicated of lepidopterists to take a leap of faith and join the dark side of trichoptery! 

So, with the help of Anthony Arak (AA) of Barkisland I have started to compile a few photos and identifications of this order which I hope will grow significantly in the years to come. 

I also hope there will be more observations of live adults in their natural habitats!

I've included the suborder headings (in orange) to help understand how the groups of families are related.

SPICIPALPIA

Primitive caddisflies whose larvae are caseless and free swimming. They only construct cocoons to pupate in.

RHYACOPHILIDAE

1.01 Sand Fly Sedge (Rhyacophila dorsalis), a female found on riverside vegetation at Brearley Wetlands on May 21st 2024.

1.01 Sand Fly Sedge (Rhyacophila dorsalis), a male to MV light at Howroyd quarry, Barkisland on June 23rd 2024. A variable species which usually has a pale diamond shape on its back when viewed from above.

HYDROPTILIDAE - THE MICRO CADDISFLIES

3.01 Agraylea multipunctata, a female to MV light at Clifton Fishing Lake, Brighouse on July 26th 2024. Forewing length 2.5 to 4mm.

3.06 Hydroptila forcipata, a male gen. prep. It came to MV light at the Rush Field, Hardcastle Crags on June 3rd 2023.

It seems that photographing micro caddisflies is often harder than identifying them!

3.09 Hydroptila occulta to MV light in my garden at Luddenden foot on June 20th 2023.

3.12 Hydroptila sparsa to MV light in my garden at Luddenden Foot on June 20th 2023.

3.21 Orthotrichia costalis female, one of two to actinic light at Clifton lake, Brighouse on July 11th 2024. 

At just 4mm in length these fidgety little insects are difficult to both photograph and identify, I nearly lost this one many times!

The forewing has a pale fringe to the trailing edge which forms a distinctive stripe.

By all accounts this is a rarely recorded species in Yorkshire no doubt in part because of the difficulty of identifying it and the lack of caddisfly recorders.

ANNULIPALPIA

These larvae do not construct cases but make silken retreats to hide in when not feeding.

PHILOPOTAMIDAE

4.02 Yellow Spotted Sedge (Philopotamus montanus) to light at Cromwell Bottom on June 11th 2023. Photo AA.

POLYCENTROPODIDAE

6.11 Polycentropus flavomaculatus to MV light at Mirey Wall farm, Sowerby on June 16th 2023.

PSYCHOMYIIDAE

7.12 Small Red Sedge (Tinodes waeneri), a male found by the Calder at Brearley Wetlands on June 13th 2024.

The larvae live in long, thin tubes attached to rocks, branches etc. It's a common species throughout Britain.

7.12 Small Red Sedge (Tinodes waeneri), genitalia preparation of the above caddisfly.

HYDROPSYCHIDAE        

8.11 Hydropsyche siltalai, a female to actinic light at Clifton lake, Brighouse on July 11th 2024. These are known as Grey Flags or Marbled Sedges to anglers.

This genus of caddisflies can often by the most common at light traps near flowing water.

INTEGRIPALPIA

These larvae are the true, case-building caddis

PHRYGANEIDAE

9.09 Great Red Sedge (Phryganea grandis) to MV light at Cromwell Bottom on June 11th 2023. The female, shown here, has a dark stripe along the wing and is the largest caddisfly in Britain with a wing length of around 30mm.

Photo AA.

LEPIDOSTOMATIDAE

12.01 Crunoecia irrorata male to MV light at Barkisland in Sept. 2022.

12.03 Small Silver Sedge (Lepidostoma hirtum), a male to MV light at High Hirst Woodmeadow on July 14th 2024.

One of the noticeable features of this genus is the hairy base to the antennae.

LIMNEPHILIDAE

14.06 Mottled Sedge (Glyphotaelius pellucidus) male to MV light at Barkisland in Sept. 2022. 

The indented outer edge of the forewing is a useful identification feature.

14.20 Limnephilus auricula, a female. One of two to MV light at Howroyd quarry, Barkisland on June 23rd 2024.

Very common throughout Britain.

14.20 Limnephilus flavicornis to light at Cromwell Bottom on June 11th 2023. A pale species with a greasy appearance.

Photo AA.

14.27 Cinnamon Sedge (Limnephilus lunatus) to actinic light at Clifton lake, Brighouse on July 11th 2024.

14.28 Limnephilus luridus, a male to MV light at Walshaw Dean plantation on 26th 2023.

14.28 Limnephilus luridus, a female to MV light at Turgate Delph, Norland on July 1st 2024. The only caddisfly in the trap that morning following a cold, wet and windy spring and summer.

14.34 Limnephilus sparsus, one of two to actinic light at Norland Bilberry Slopes on Oct. 4th 2022. This species prefers the more static bodies of water such as ponds, marshes and even temporary puddles.

14.4 Caperer Caddis Fly (Halesus radiatus) to light at Cromwell Bottom on Oct. 6th 2024. A common and widespread species.

14.? A Potamophylax species, female, to MV light at Barkisland in Sept. 2022.

14.54 Stenophylax permistus, a female to actinic light at Tag Loop, Cromwell Bottom on Apr. 7th 2024. This belongs to a group of four species in Britain know as Large Cinnamon Sedges. 

It appears to be a common species within Calderdale and naturally wanders far from its breeding grounds. Whether this one was a resident or the result of storm Kathleen we will never know.

14.54 Stenophylax permistus, a male to actinic light at Bride Stones moor on May 3rd 2024. They must be hardy souls as there were three in trap and precious little else at this rather exposed site.

MOLANNIDAE

18.02 Molanna angustata, a male found resting by the towpath at Moderna, Mytholmroyd on May 13th 2024. 

This is a species of lakes, canals and slow flowing rivers

LEPTOCERIDAE - THE LONG-HORNS

19.04 Athripsodes aterrimus, a male found by the towpath at Tenterfieds, Luddenden Foot on May 29th 2024. 

It is widespread and fairly frequent in Britain, its larvae live in ponds, lakes and slow flowing rivers.

19.05 Athripsodes bilineatus to MV light at Mirey Wall farm, Sowerby on June 16th 2023.

19.05 Athripsodes bilineatus to MV light at Cromwell Bottom on June 11th 2023. Photo AA.

19.17 Leptocerus tineiformis to actinc light at Clifton lake, Brighouse on July 11th 2024.

There were dozens of these in and around the small trap situated between the fishing lake and river Calder.

19.18 Black Silverhorn (Mystacides azurea) to MV light at Mirey Wall farm, Sowerby on June 16th 2023.

19.19 Grouse Wing (Mystacides longicornis) to MV light at Mirey Wall farm, Sowerby on June 16th 2023. A common and easily recognised species in moth traps.