Dicosmoecus gilvipes
FAMILY
Limnephilidae
TAXONOMY
Stenophylax gilvipes Hagen, 1875, Colorado, United States.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Northern casemaker caddisfly.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Adults are large, dark brown in color, and the veins of the forewing are darker than the membrane. The forewing is 0.84–1.16 in (21–28 mm) in length.
DISTRIBUTION
Western montane North America.
HABITAT
Larvae live on rocks in running waters and shores of lakes from 1,300–6,000 ft (395–1,830 m) in elevation.
BEHAVIOR
Larvae build stout cases of gravel; they use the same cases to pupate.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Larvae graze on diatoms and organic particles.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Individuals have a one-year (and occasionally a two-year) cycle. Adults emerge in late summer.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Important as fish food, and used by fishermen as bait.
