The Hydroptilidae are a large family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) with a worldwide distribution. They are commonly known as microcaddisflies or purse-case caddisflies, in reference to two characteristic traits of this family: Hydroptilidae are much smaller than other caddisflies, rarely exceeding in length. Their larvae do not build a protective case until the final instar of their growth. At that time however, they build a typically Purse-shaped case, either portable or stuck to the

substrate Substrate may refer to: Physical layers *Substrate (biology), the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the surface or medium on which an organism grows or is attached ** Substrate (locomotion), the surface over which an organism lo ...

, in which the larva finishes growth and pupates.

Systematics and taxonomy

Their

systematic Systematic may refer to: Science * Short for systematic error * Systematic fault * Systematic bias, errors that are not determined by chance but are introduced by an inaccuracy (involving either the observation or measurement process) inheren ...

placement among the caddisflies is still disputed. They are traditionally placed in the

suborder Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and ...

Spicipalpia The Spicipalpia are a suborder of Trichoptera, the caddisflies. The four families included in this suborder all have the character of pointed maxillary palps in the adults. The larvae of the different families have varying lifestyles, from free- ...

, which do not seem to be a natural

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

group, but rather an evolutionary grade of moderately advanced caddisflies. Some authors downrank the Spicipalpia to a

superfamily SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...

of the more

basal Basal or basilar is a term meaning ''base'', ''bottom'', or ''minimum''. Science * Basal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location for features associated with the base of an organism or structure * Basal (medicine), a minimal level that is nec ...

Annulipalpia and call them Rhyacophiloidea (which otherwise refers to a subfamily of suborder Spicipalpia), but recent studies generally rejected this view. More often, the Hydroptilidae are placed in a monotypic superfamily Hydroptiloidea, either in the Spicipalpia or – probably more appropriately considering the present state of caddisfly phylogeny – '' incertae sedis'' in the Trichoptera. It may be that the

Glossosomatoidea The Glossosomatoidea are a superfamily of the class Insecta and order Trichoptera The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, mo ...

are particularly closely related to the Hydroptilidae; together they might even be closer to the most advanced caddisflies (the

tube case caddisflies The Integripalpia are a suborder of Trichoptera The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most of which can be divided into th ...

, Integripalpia) than any other living caddisfly. But this view is almost as disputed as including the Spicipalpia in the Annulipalpia. In any case, were Glossosomatoidea and Hydroptiloidea to be merged into a single superfamily, the older name Hydroptiloidea would apply for the combined group. The peculiarly apomorphic

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

'' Palaeagapetus'' and '' Ptilocolepus'' have been separated as

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Ptilocolepinae, while all other genera form the

Hydroptilinae Hydroptilinae is a subfamily of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae. There are at least 60 genera and 1,600 described species in Hydroptilinae. The type genus for Hydroptilinae is ''Hydroptila'' J.W. Dalman, 1819. Genera These 65 gene ...

family with its multiple tribes. It is far from certain that the Ptilocolepinae are the living fossils such an arrangement would imply them to be.

Genera

Around 70 genera with at least 1,700 species have been described from this family: ;

Stephens, 1836 *'' Acanthotrichia'' Wells, 1982 *'' Acritoptila'' Wells, 1982 *'' Agraylea'' Curtis, 1834 *''

Allotrichia ''Allotrichia'' is a genus of insect belonging to the family Hydroptilidae. The genus was first described by McLachlan in 1880. The species of this genus are found in Europe. Species: * '' Allotrichia pallicornis'' References {{Taxonbar, ...

'' McLachlan, 1880 *'' Austratrichia'' Wells, 1982 *'' Cyclopsiella'' Kjaerandsen, 1997 *'' Dhatrichia'' Mosely, 1948 *'' Hellyethira'' Neboiss, 1977 *'' Hydroptila'' Dalman, 1819 *'' Hydroptilina'' Martynov, 1934 *'' Jabitrichia'' Wells, 1990 *'' Microptila'' Ris, 1897 *'' Missitrichia'' Wells, 1991 *'' Mulgravia'' Wells, 1982 *''

Oxyethira ''Oxyethira'' is a genus of microcaddisfly, microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae. There are more than 210 described species in ''Oxyethira''. See also * List of Oxyethira species References Further reading * * * External links ...

'' Eaton, 1873 *'' Paroxyethira'' Mosely, 1924 *'' Paucicalcaria'' Mathis & Bowles, 1989 *'' Tangatrichia'' Wells & Andersen, 1995 *''

Tricholeiochiton ''Tricholeiochiton'' is a genus of insects belonging to the family Hydroptilidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe, Southern Africa and Australia. Species: * ''Tricholeiochiton fagesii ''Tricholeiochiton fagesii'' is a species ...

'' Kloet & Hincks, 1944 *'' Ugandatrichia'' Mosely, 1939 *'' Vietrichia'' Olah, 1989 *'' Wlitrichia'' Kjaerandsen, 1997 *'' Xuthotrichia'' Mosely, 1934 ;Leucotrichiinae Flint, 1970 *'' Abtrichia'' Mosely, 1939 *'' Acostatrichia'' Mosely, 1939 *'' Alisotrichia'' Flint, 1964 *'' Anchitrichia'' Flint, 1970 *'' Ascotrichia'' Flint, 1983 *'' Betrichia'' Mosely, 1939 *'' Celaenotrichia'' Mosely, 1934 *'' Cerasmatrichia'' Flint, Harris & Botosaneanu, 1994 *'' Ceratotrichia'' Flint, 1992 *'' Costatrichia'' Mosely, 1937 *'' Eutonella'' Mueller, 1921 *'' Leucotrichia'' Mosely, 1934 *'' Mejicanotrichia'' Harris & Holzenthal, 1997 *'' Peltopsyche'' Mueller, 1879 *'' Scelobotrichia'' Harris & Bueno-Soria, 1993 *'' Zumatrichia'' Mosely, 1937 ;Neotrichiinae Ross, 1956 *'' Kumanskiella'' Harris & Flint, 1992 *'' Mayatrichia'' Mosely, 1937 *'' Neotrichia'' Morton, 1905 *'' Taraxitrichia'' Flint & Harris, 1991 ;Ochrotrichiinae Marshall, 1979 *'' Angrisanoia'' Özdikmen, 2008 *'' Caledonotrichia'' Sykora, 1967 *'' Maydenoptila'' Neboiss, 1977 *'' Metrichia'' Ross, 1938 *''

Ochrotrichia ''Ochrotrichia'' is a large genus of Hydroptilidae, microcaddisflies. All are Nearctic or Neotropical in distribution apart from ''Ochrotrichia verbekei'', recorded from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Species *''Ochrotrichia affinis'' *' ...

'' Mosely, 1934 *'' Nothotrichia'' Flint, 1967 *'' Ragatrichia'' Oláh & Johanson, 2011 *'' Rhyacopsyche'' Mueller, 1879 ;Orthotrichiinae Nielsen, 1948 *''

Ithytrichia ''Ithytrichia'' is a genus of insects belonging to the family Hydroptilidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe and America. Species: * '' Ithytrichia aquila'' Gonzalez & Malicky, 1988 * '' Ithytrichia bosniaca'' Murgoci, Botnariue ...

'' Eaton, 1873 *''

Orthotrichia Autotrichia is a genus of moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately ...

'' Eaton, 1873 ;Stactobiinae Botosaneanu, 1956 *'' Bredinia'' Flint, 1968 *'' Byrsopteryx'' Flint, 1981 *'' Catoxyethira'' Ulmer, 1912 *'' Chrysotrichia'' Schmid, 1958 *'' Flintiella'' Angrisano, 1995 *'' Niuginitrichia'' Wells, 1990 *'' Orinocotrichia'' Harris, Flint & Holzenthal, 2002 *'' Parastactobia'' Schmid, 1958 *'' Plethus'' Hagen, 1887 *''

Scelotrichia ''Scelotrichia'' is a genus of insects belonging to the family Hydroptilidae The Hydroptilidae are a large family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) with a worldwide distribution. They are commonly known as microcaddisflies or purse-case caddisfl ...

'' Ulmer, 1951 *''

Stactobia ''Stactobia'' is a genus of insects belonging to the family Hydroptilidae The Hydroptilidae are a large family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) with a worldwide distribution. They are commonly known as microcaddisflies or purse-case caddisflies, ...

'' McLachlan, 1880 *'' Stactobiella'' Martynov, 1924 *'' Tizatetrichia'' Harris, Flint & Holzenthal, 2002 ;'' incertae sedis'' *''† Burminoptila'' Botosaneanu, 1981 *''

Dibusa ''Dibusa'' is a genus of microcaddisflies in the family Hydroptilidae The Hydroptilidae are a large family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) with a worldwide distribution. They are commonly known as microcaddisflies or purse-case caddisflies, i ...

'' Ross, 1939 *'' Dicaminus'' Mueller, 1879 *''† Electrotrichia'' Ulmer, 1912 *'' Macrostactobia'' Schmid, 1958 *''† Novajerseya'' Botosaneanu, Johnson & P. R. Dillon, 1998 *'' Orphninotrichia'' Mosely, 1934

References

External links

Trichoptera World Checklist
{{Taxonbar, from=Q253573 Hydroptilidae, Trichoptera families