page_title: Hydropsychidae
section_title: Anatomy
hierarchical_section_title: Hydropsychidae / Larvae / Anatomy
caption_attribution_description: English: Ventrolateral view of a Cheumatopsyche spp. larva (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae)
context_page_description: The Hydropsychidae are a family-level taxon consisting of net-spinning caddisflies. Hydropsychids are common among much of the world's streams, and a few species occupy the shorelines of freshwater lakes. Larvae of the hydropsychids construct nets at the open ends of their dwellings which are responsible for their "net-spinning caddisfly" common name.
context_section_description: Hydropsychid larvae are unique from most Trichoptera due to their fully scleritized dorsum.  Only the Hydroptilidae family share this characteristic with the hydropsychids.  This feature combined with branched gills running along ventral surface of their abdomens differentiate the hydropsychids from all other trichopterans.  The hydropsychids have large anal prolegs equipped with hooks, allowing them to grasp the side of rocks in river and stream beds.  Individuals are easily identified without the use of a lens by their large, curved bodies. In India four subfamilies (Arctopsychinae, Martynov 1924, Diplectroninae, Ulmer 1951, Hydropsychinae, Curtis 1835, Macronematinae, Ulmer 1905) have been reported so far which includes 15 genera and 128 species.
caption: Larva of Cheumatopsyche sp.
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