A small mothlike insect with an aquatic larva that typically builds a protective portable case of sticks, stones, and other particles.
Order Trichoptera: several families
‘Every day the sun sets behind blurred clouds of stonefly, caddis, midge or mayfly dancing against the horizon.’
‘The key to the transformation is that the oxygen has increased the number of invertebrate the fish feed on from about five to 30 including freshwater shrimp, water louse and a caddis which only thrives in pristine waters.’
‘It included specimens of fourteen insect orders, with major holdings of New Zealand moths, butterflies, beetles, stoners, caddis and bugs.’
‘Once you've collected a hundred or so caddises then you've got enough to go fishing with - and you can often get ten caddis grubs off a single stone.’
‘The children's trays began to fill with mayfly nymphs, aquatic sow bugs, and the larvae of blackflies, caddis flies, and bloodred midges.’
Origin
Mid 17th century of unknown origin.
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