Synopsis of Piltera

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The scientific name "Trichoptera" derives from the Greek "θρίξπτερόν", "θρίξ (thrix)" is the meaning of "hair (hair)", "πτερόν (pteron) is the meaning of "wing(wing)", so "Trichoptera" is translated in Chinese as "hair". As the name suggests, the wings of this type of insect are hairy. In English, the insects of the order Tricholy are commonly referred to as "caddisfly", and it is not clear how "caddis" came from and what it means. There is some truth to the Chinese translation of "caddisfly" as "stone moth" or "stone silkworm", because most larvae of the order Hairy-winged order prefer to inhabit underwater stones. Back in 1653, Izaak Walton's wrote a book called The Compleat Angler, in which he wrote that "cod-worms or caddis" could be used as fishing bait. In the 15th century, "cadyss" referred to silk or cotton cloth, and "cadice-men" referred to the mobile goodsmen who sold such cloth. But this meaning is difficult to relate to the stone moth "caddisfly".

The adults of the pteroptera are stone moths, and their larvae are called stone silkworms. The larvae are aquatic and the adults are terrestrial. Among the stone moths that still live on Earth, about 14,500 species have been discovered and described. Most of these species belong to the suborder Lycaenidae and the suborder Annulus, and a few belong to the suborder Apical suborder. The following is the basic situation of the suborder and general family of the order Tricaris:

1. Annulipalpia of the suborder Annulipalpia

Hydropsychoidea of the general family of stone moths

Philopotamoidea, a general family of finites

2. Suborder Integripalpia

Leptoceroidea, a general family of longhorn stone moths

Limnephiloidea, general family of swamp moths

Phyrganeoidea, general family of stone moths

Sericostomatoidea, general family of lycopherolidae

Tasimioidea

3. Suborder Sepipalpia

Hydroptiloidea, general family of stone moths

Rhyacophiloidea, a general family of flowstone moths

The larvae of suborder Lycaenidae weave a portable casing to protect themselves when they forage everywhere, while the larvae of suborder Circadiana hide in seclusion and wait for food to arrive. Of the 3 suborders , the smallest suborder is the suborder Cuspidoptera. The affinity between this suborder and the other 2 suborders is unclear, but based on molecular entomological analysis, it is speculated that they may not belong to a monophyletic taxon. The two pairs of membranous wings of adult Trichocephalus are covered with fine hairs , but resemble small moths in appearance. In general , the order Pterophora is more closely related to Lepidoptera ( moths and butterflies , with scales on their wings ) , so these two orders are classified as haemorphs.

Aquatic stone moth larvae, called stone silkworms in Chinese, can live in almost all freshwater environments except the ocean, such as streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, ditches, swamps, etc. Many species of stone silkworms will spit silk and mix with small gravel, sediment, branches, torn plant material or other residues to make a shield or cage to protect itself. There are many types of eating insects, some of which are predatory, some of which are plant-eating, specializing in feeding on the leaves of plants or some lower plants (such as algae, etc.), or collecting in-stream and benthic organisms as their food source. Stone silkworms live in clean water bodies, and they are very sensitive to water pollution, so they are often used as indicators of the quality of the water environment. Most adults of the order Trichophylla are chewy but do not feed, have filamentous antennae, and have a short lifespan.

Chinese-English comparison of the terms related to this article:

Trichoptera

[Stone Moth] Caddisfly

Annulipalpia

Hydropsychoidea

[Isoptera] Philopotamoidea

Integripalpia

[General family of Leptoceroididae] Leptoceroidea

Limnephiloidea

[Stone Moth Family] Phyrganeoidea

【General family of silk-mouthed stone moths】Sericostomatoidea

[Suborder Spicipalpia

Hydroptiloidea

Rhyacophiloidea

Monophyletic group

Lepidoptera

Amphiesmenoptera

Benthos