As a result, larvae show several morphological adaptations to life in high flow. Six true hydraulic sucking discs on the ventral surface of the body allow for secure attachment to substrates.
All larvae are grazers, feeding on the periphytic films covering submerged substrates.
Blepharicerid larvae use highly specialized mandibles to scrape the substrate, dislodge diatoms, and then, using specialized maxillae, concentrate dislodged diatoms toward the mouth for ingestion. For this study, however, I am primarily interested in larval Blephariceridae. The high degree of regional and local sympatry in southern Appalachian Blepharicera stimulates speculation as to how these animals are able to successfully coexist. Through casual observation in collecting these larvae, it is apparent that there are obvious species-specific microhabitat preferences within the Blepharicera . In addition to the apparent microhabitat separation, many species are temporally isolated.