Caddisfly

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@N0... 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.