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Caddisfly
Order: Trichoptera Family: Leptoceridae
-37.8933, 145.31
Field Notes
Description:
A grey insect with a body about 25 mm long and filamentous antennae extending to another 20 -25 mm. Wings were held flat. Fore wings showed fine brown and grey patters, slightly hatched towards the base of the costa. Hind wings -? mebranous. Grey eyes looked moth-like (Pic 3). Legs had spikes. Labial palps appeared articulated with fine setae (Pic 5)
Habitat:
Spotted under bright lights in a car yard opposite national park with native trees.
Notes:
This caddisfly did not attempt to fly when disturbed, it tried to run away and moved quite quickly. Labial palps were held straight out at first but I could see that they could be moved sideways to about 90 degrees (Pic 5). Caddisfly larvae are acquatic ( living even in seepage wate or temporary ponds) and they live in shelters made of twigs, detritus or sand grains. Most eat algae or organic matter and a fw are carnivorous.
My thanks to Graeme Cocks for the ID.
Here is a Flickr photo of similar
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31031835@N08/6716571395
These are said to be closely related to lepidopterans but as they have hairy wings, they are included under Order Trichoptera. Both Lepidotera and Trichoptera together go under Superorder Amphiesmenoptera.
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