Caddisflies: The Treasure in Rivers

 

Caddisflies are one of a kind. They are insects under the Trichoptera order. Usually, the can be found proximate to water sources, like rivers and streams as its larvae lives in the water while the fully grown adult lives on land, similar to mosquitoes. The larvae are able to live in low oxygen conditions. They are selective feeders that feed on more nutritious foods that trapped at their nets. They are special due to their ability to make protective cases from things around them. The larvae use silks that are reinforced with twigs, gravels and other debris. There were some people that ‘supply’ the larvae with stones and jewels so that these larvae would make a case out of it!

A caddisfly larvae in a jewel case.

 

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Caddisfly larva arranging parts that make up the nest.

 

The Importance of Caddisflies.

Caddisflies larvae are really sensitive to the environment, especially the water quality as it has low tolerance to pollution. If there are changes in turbidity of the water, nutrient content and even the pH, it would affect the population. Hence, researches use this information to assess the water quality in streams, river and lakes. In Ohio, the data that was retrieved showed that the caddisflies species that are present are currently endangered and fell under species of concern. This is mainly due to the water quality that is deteriorating relative to previous years. The two figures below were obtained from a file published by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

Three endangered caddisflies species.

 

 

 

The number of caddisflies that are endangered, threatened and within concern of ODNR.

Here, we could see that there are three species that is endangered, six species that is threatened and three species that is of concerned. To ensure that the species continue to survive, the water quality of our river has to be maintained at all cost. The presence of caddisflies in our rivers and watershed means that these places has a really low pollution level, and that indicator also benefits other species as it makes the habitat habitable.

Sources:

1. http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/07/hubert-duprat-caddisflies/

2. https://www.thoughtco.com/water-monitoring-and-aquatic-macroinvertebrates-1968647

3. https://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/wildlife/pdfs/publications/…/pub356.pdf

4. https://www.ecospark.ca/caddisfly

 

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