Order: Trichoptera - Caddisflies

Natural History: The "saddle-case" created by the glossosomatid caddisfly is unmistakable. Made from small gravel, the case is oval at the top and flat underneath. It looks remarkably like a turtle shell - the bottom even has openings on both ends. This allows both the front and back ends of these caddisfly larvae to protrude from the case and firmly grasp the substrate, usually cobble on the stream bottom (instead of a penny in a dish).  Their grasp is often so strong that it can seem like the case is cemented to the rock, when in fact this caddisfly and its case are quite mobile. They are intermediate in form between the free-living caddisflies like net spinners and other case makers. The saddle case caddisfly will abandon its case when stressed and build a new case later; they also build new cases after every molt.

Glossosomatids are generally found in cool streams with fast currents, often found clustered in groups on the underside and sides of large flat rocks. They feed on periphyton and detritus.

Pollution tolerance: Intolerant (1 out of 10)

Location: Skaggs Run, Hardy County