Page two Page three Instruction page - Return to macroinvertebrate Order page. Most larvae will have conspicuous hard plate-like structures called nota on the top of the first, second or third thoracic segments. See if the number of nota match those on your larvae.
Some larvae have wart-like dorsal or lateral humps on the first abdominal segment.
Look for these on the top and sides of the first abdominal segment. Note that these humps do not always stand out clearly from the body. They may be compressed almost all the way into the soft body and appear as only slight mounds. Caddis larvae have extremely small antennae compared to other aquatic insects. Even at a magnification of 30x you must look in exactly the right place on the larva s head to see them.