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!

RHYACOPHILIDAE

1.01 Sand Fly Sedge (Rhyacophila dorsalis) to light at Barkisland in Sept. 2022. 

In this genus the larvae are free swimming rather than case builders.

HYDROPTILIDAE - THE MICRO CADDISFLIES

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 at my new place at Luddenden foot on June 20th 2023.

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

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.

HYDROPSYCHIDAE        

8.? A Hydropsyche species to light at Barkisland in Sept. 2022. These are known as Grey Flags or Marbled Sedges to anglers.

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.

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.

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

Browner and plainer than the male.

14.20 Limnephilus flavicornis to light at Cromwell Bottom on June 11th 2023. Photo AA.

14.27 Cinnamon Sedge (Limnephilus lunatus) to MV light at Barkisland on Sept. 6th 2022.

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

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.

14.42 Halesus digitatus to light at Barkisland in Oct. 2021. We are fairly confident of the identification.

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.

LEPTOCERIDAE

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.

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

19.18 Black Silverhorn (Mystacides azurea) to MV light at Barkisland in Sept. 2022. 

Photo AA.

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.