caddis fly

caddis fly
n.
any of an order (Trichoptera) of small, mothlike insects with a soft body, long antennae and legs, and two pairs of hairy, membranous wings

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Any member of about 7,000 species of mothlike aquatic insects (order Trichoptera) found worldwide, usually in freshwater habitats but sometimes in brackish and tidal waters.

Generally dull brownish, caddis flies have long antennae and hairy wings that fold rooflike over the abdomen. They feed primarily on plant juices and flower nectar, though a few are predaceous. Many caddis-fly larvae construct a portable case from grains of sand, bits of shells, and plant debris glued together by a sticky substance they secrete. This case surrounds the larva's abdomen while it matures. Caddis flies are important to freshwater ecosystems because they clean the water by consuming plant and animal debris and serve, as larvae and adults, as an important food for fish, particularly trout.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • caddis fly — caddis fly, caddisfly caddisfly . same as {caddice fly}. Syn: caddice fly, caddicefly. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • caddis fly — n. any of an order (Trichoptera) of small, mothlike insects with a soft body, long antennae and legs, and two pairs of hairy, membranous wings …   English World dictionary

  • caddis fly — noun small moth like insect having two pairs of hairy membranous wings and aquatic larvae • Syn: ↑caddis fly, ↑caddice fly, ↑caddice fly • Hypernyms: ↑trichopterous insect, ↑trichopteran, ↑trichopteron …   Useful english dictionary

  • caddis-fly — n. (pl. flies) any small hairy winged nocturnal insect of the order Trichoptera, living near water. Etymology: 17th c.: orig. unkn. * * * noun small moth like insect having two pairs of hairy membranous wings and aquatic larvae • Syn: ↑caddis fly …   Useful english dictionary

  • caddis fly — a fly of the order Trichoptera; hairs and scales from these flies are a cause of allergic symptoms in susceptible persons …   Medical dictionary

  • caddis-fly — n. See caddice fly …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • caddis fly — /ˈkædəs flaɪ/ (say kaduhs fluy) noun any of various adult insects of the order Trichoptera, characterised by four membranous, more or less hairy wings. Also, caddice fly. {origin uncertain} …  

  • caddis fly — noun Date: 1787 any of an order (Trichoptera) of insects with four membranous usually hairy wings, vestigial mouthparts, slender many jointed antennae, and aquatic larvae compare caddisworm …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • caddis fly — noun any insect, of the order Trichoptera, having two pairs of hairy wings; they are found near lakes and streams …   Wiktionary

  • caddis fly — n. small insect with two pairs of hairy membranous wings and superficially similar to moths …   English contemporary dictionary

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