Mystacides sp.

  • photomicrograph of the whole body of a caddisfly larva with dark markings on the head and thorax.

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    Figure 1. Whole body of Mystacides sp. Note the dark markings on the head and thoracic segment. This individual was found in Saginaw Bay, near Lake Huron in July 2022.

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  • photomicrograph of the posterior end of a caddisfly larva showing the spines and hairs on the anal prolegs

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    Figure 2. Anal proleg of Mystacides sp., note the row of spines that distinguish from others. This individual was found in Saginaw Bay, near Lake Huron in July 2022. The spines are fainter than the dark brown setae, they are 5-7 light brown spines just below the prolegs.

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Mystacides sp.

Taxa description

Mystacides sp. Berthold, 1827 larvae are readily recognized by their head and thoracic markings of strongly contrasting black spots or blotches on a light background (Fig. 1). Mystacides larvae have a secondary division in both tibia and tarsus of the hind leg. Mandibles are short, the toothed points grouped around a central concavity. Single abdominal gill filaments are present in one species. Two patches of spines occur on the venter of the anal proleg in a row (Fig. 2). Mystacides sp. also have bulbous projections on the first abdominal segment which are joined on the outside by a curved spinous bar which is joined to a sclerotized bar pointing obliquely forwards (Fig. 1; Hickin 1967). Cases are irregular and are comprised of plant and mineral materials with twigs or conifer needles extending past the ends (Merritt et al. 2008).

Distinguishing features

Habitat

Larvae are usually found in the shallows along shores of lakes and ponds, or in areas of slow current of rivers (Wiggins 1996).

Lake occurrence

Mystacides sp. has records from Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, as well as connecting channels in the region (NOAA and US EPA, 2019).

Similar species

Relative size

Does it have a barcode reference from the Great Lakes?

References

Merritt, R.W., and Cummins, K.W. eds. 2008. An introduction to the aquatic insects of North America. Kendall Hunt.

Hickin, N.E. 1967. Caddis larvae: larvae of the British Trichoptera. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.

NOAA and USEPA. 2019 Great Lakes Waterlife. Accessed on 09/05/2023.

Wiggins, G.B. 1996. Larvae of the North American caddisfly genera (Trichoptera). University of Toronto Press.

Occurrence in scientific literature

Burton, T.M., Uzarski, D.G., Genet, J.A. 2004. Invertebrate habitat use in relation to fetch and plant zonation in northern Lake Huron coastal wetlands. Aquatic Ecosys. Health Manage., 7, 249-267.

Davis, B. M., Hudson, P. L., Armitage, B. J. 1991. Distribution and abundance of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the St. Clair-Detroit River system. J. Great Lakes Res., 17(4), 522-535.

Dermott, R., Pachkevitch, A. 2012. Biotic indices of the littoral benthic community from the Bay of Quinte, eastern Lake Ontario. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 2996.

DeWalt, R. E., South, E. J. 2015. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera on Isle Royale National Park, USA, compared to mainland species pool and size distribution. ZooKeys, 532, 137-158.

Masteller, E. C. 1993 b. The Trichoptera (caddisflies) of Presque Isle State Park and Lake Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. J. Penn. Acad. Sci., 167, 132-136.