1.         Larvae construct portable cases of sand grains or small rock fragments, coiled to resemble snail             shell (Fig. 1.1.); anal claw comb-shaped (Fig.1.1b). Helicopsychidae Helicopsyche borealis

            Larvae construct cylindrical portable cases that do not resemble coiled snail shell, or larva does             not construct protable case; anal claw with stout apical hook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2.         Metanotum entirely covered by sclerite (Fig. 1.2.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

            Metanotum entirely membranous (Fig. 1.3.), or largely so but with several pairs of smaller                         sclerites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3.         Abdomen with ventolateral rows of branched gills (Fig.1.4.), and with prominent tuft of long             setae at base of anal proleg (Fig.1.5.); Larvae construct fixed retreats of detritus and rock                         fragments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydropsychidae

            Abdomen without either branched gills or tuft of setae at base of anal proleg. Abdomen                         dorsoventrally flatten, or (usually) laterally flattened. Very small size (>4 mm)                                    (Fig. 1.6.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydroptilidae

4.        Antenna markedly elongate and prominent, at least 6 times as long as wide (Fig. 1.7.), and/or             sclerotized plates on mesonotum lightly pigmented except for pair of darked curved lines on             posterior half. Larvae construct portable cases of various materials. . . . . . . . . Leptoceridae

           Antenna of normal length, not more than 3 times as long as wide, or not apparent;            mesonotum never with pair of dark curved lines as above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5.        Mesonotum largely or entirely membranous (Fig. 1.8.), or with small sclerites covering not more             than half of notum; pronotum never with anterolateral lobe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

           Mesonotum largely covered by sclerotized plates, variously subdivided, and typically pigmented,            although sometimes lightly (Fig. 1.9.); pronotum sometimes with prominent anterlateral lobe . .             . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6.         Abdominal tergum IX with sclerite (Fig. 1.10.), sometimes pale and inconspicuous or obscured            by posterior margin of abdominal tergum VIII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

           Abdominal tergum IX entirely membranous (Fig. 1.11.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

7.         Metanotal sa3 typically consisting of cluster of setae arising from small rounded or ovoid            sclerite (Fig. 1.12.); prosternal horn present, Larvae construct tubular portable cases, typically of             plant materials. Head marked by dark stripes (Fig. 1.13.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Phryganeidae

           Metanodal sa3 consisting of single seta with or without sclerite (Fig. 1.14.); prosternal horn                         absent. Larvae either without protable tubular cases, or with tortoise-like domed cases of rock             fragments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8.         Anal proleg with basal half broadly jointed with segment IX (Fig. 1.15.), anal claw with at least             one dorsal accessory hook. Larvae construct tortois-like domed portable cases of rock                         fragments, but larvae often taken without case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Glossosomatidae

            Anal proleg mostly free from segment IX (Fig. 1.16.), anal claw without dorsal accessory hook,             although a secondary lateral claw may be present. Larvae free-living, without cases or fixed             retreats until pupation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhyacophilidae, Rhyacophila

9.         Labrum pale, membranous and T-shaped (Fig. 1.17), often withdrawn from view in preserved             specimens. Larvae construct fixed sac-shaped nets of silk. Head 2X long as wide (Fig. 1.18.). . .             . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Philopotamidae

           Labrum sclerotized, rounded, articulate in the normal way and never withdrawn (Fig. 1.19). . 10

10.       Fore trochantin extended as broadened, hatchet-shaped, lobe (Fig. 1.20.). Larvae construct             fixed tubular retreats of sand and debris on rocks and logs (Fig. 1.20a). . . . . .Psychomyiidae

           Fore trochantin with apex acute, not expanded into broadened lobe (Fig. 1.21). . . . . . . . . . . 11

11.       Tarsi of all legs markedly flattened, tibiae shorter than tarsi (Fig. 1.22). Larvae construct tubes            of sand and silk, buried in soft sediments. Unglaciated Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dipseudopsidae, Phylocentropus

           Tarsi of all legs normal and not flattened, tibiae longer than tarsi (Fig. 1.23). Larvae construct            exposed funnel-shaped or tubular filter nets of silk or flattened retreats . . Polycentropodidae

12.       Abdominal segment I lacking both dorsal and lateral humps, metanotal sa1 absent or            represented only by single seta without sclerite. Larvae construct portable cases of diverse            architecture but often 4-sided, using mainly plant materials although sometimes sand or silk.            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brachycentridae

           Abdominal segment I always with lateral hump although not always prominent and            typically with median dorsal hump; metanotal sa1 always present, typically represented by            sclerite bearing several setae but with a least a single seta. Larvae construct protable cases of            widely differing form and materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

13.       Mesopleuron (and propleuron) extended anteriorly as prominent, acutely or bluntly pointed            processes (Fig 1.26). Larvae construct cases of rock fragments (Fig. 1.27). . . Goeridae, Goera

           Mesopleuron not extended anteriorly as pointed process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

14.       Antenna situated near anterior margin of eye (Fig. 1.28); abdominal segment I without median            dorsal hump. Larvae construct cases of varied architecture using various materials. . . . . . . . . . .            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lepidostomatidae, Lepidostoma*

           Antenna not near anterior margin of eye, situated approximately midway to the anterior margin            of head capsule as to eye or closer; abdominal segment I almost always with median dorsal            hump (Fig. 1.28). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

15.       Antenna situated approximately midway between anterior margin of head capsule and eye            (Fig. 1.29); prosternal horn typically present although sometimes short (Fig. 1.30); chloride            epithelia typically present (Fig. 1.30) on at least some abdominal segments. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

           Antenna situated at or near anterior margin of head capsule; proternal horn and chloride            epithelia absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

16.       Mesonotum notched anteromedially (Fig. 1.31). Larvae have single abdominal gills; constructing            slender cases, or stouter cases of rock fragments, often with smaller stones arranged linerally            along each side (Fig. 1.32). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thremmatidae (Uenoidae) Neophylax

           Mesonotum not notched anteromedially (Fig. 1.33). Chloride epithelia typically present on at            least some abdominal segments (Fig. 1.34). Cases of plant (Fig. 1.35) or mineral materials            or a combination of the two. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Limnephilidae

17.       Tarsal claw of hind leg modified to form short stub or slender filament. Cases of sand grains            with flanges on sides and overhanging anterior opening. . . . . . . . . . . Molannidae, Molanna

           Tarsal claw of hind leg not different in structure from those of other legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Odontoceridae, Psilotreta

* Larvae of the family Lepidostomatidae have not been described, except for Lepidostoma griseum.

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Caddisflies of Ohio

Key to Caddisfly (Trichoptera) Nymphs Families

From Wiggins & Currie, 2008