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Flying prawn or moth? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter SleepyLizard
- Start date
Hi Alan,
It looks like a Caddis Fly to me. They quite often turn up in moth traps and I remember being confused by them too. Curious creatures!
It looks like a Caddis Fly to me. They quite often turn up in moth traps and I remember being confused by them too. Curious creatures!
very boring banned member
New member
This is some Trichoptera, an order related to Lepidoptera. Their larvae live in shallow waters, inside tubes they create of dead plants or sand.
The Drinker
...I do it with the light on.
Fifebirder said:
I agree, it's certainly a Caddis fly. Not a speciality of mine and, given the 189 known British Species with minimal variation , I'll leave this to someone who knows (or wants to) sort it out for you.
SleepyLizard
Well-known member
Aha! - A Caddis Fly! I should have known that as I've seen enough pics of them. However it's the first I've photographed myself. This one spent the night on my bedroom ceiling. Thanks again for your help everyone.
harry eales
Ancient Entomologist
SleepyLizard said:
Hi Alan,
As others have already said, it is a Caddis fly. Identification down to species level is a very specialised occupation and I only know personally, one man in England who is expert at this and he is the National Recorder.
Identification of Caddis relies on many factors and points of examination, it cannot be done from a photograph unfortunately. It may be possible for an expert to get it down to a certain 'Genera' but not to species level.
Things to be looked at include positioning of hairs on the wings, spurs on various legs and genitalia. It is almost impossible to do on a living insect.
Personally I'd rather try identifying melanic Pug Moths than take on Caddis.
Sorry I can't help further.
Harry
SleepyLizard
Well-known member
No problem Harry - at least I'll recognise a Caddis Fly the next time I trip over one 
Surreybirder
Ken Noble
harry eales said:
I know one person who's a wizz at lacewings and correspond with someone who is an expert on hoverflies (both of which I'm useless at) and some guy has just written a book about the ladybirds of Surrey (there's also one on the grasshoppers and bush-crickets). It's fascinating how people get drawn to different groups of animals. Almost every photo I've posted, whether of beetles, leaches or dead mammals has been IDed, at least to genus!
Personally I tend to lose interest once a microscope or a dissection kit is needed!
harry eales
Ancient Entomologist
Surreybirder said:
Oh the lack of dedication in todays Naturalists, lol. There's an excellent book by Colin Plant on British Lacewings and great one on British Hoverflies by Falk. It will cost you less than £50 for the pair. Both worth having for ID's and interesting reading to boot.
Forget the dedication bit Ken, I had forgotten your dedicated to letting us have a try at ID'ing your captures. lol.
Harry. (Sorry mate, I'm in one of those 'take the micky' moods today)
