FEATURES:

COMMON NAME:

Larvae:
Caterpillar-like, long cylindrical body and distinct head
Head-short antennae and 2 lateral rings of stemmata (simple eyes)
Mouth part-opposable mandibles and spinneret 3 pairs of articulated legs on the thorax and 5 pairs of fleshy prolegs with crochet on the abdomen
Filamentous gills are present on many of the thoracic abdominal segments
Pupa:
Obtect, type (appendages attached to the body) Ð may or may not develop in cocoon
Gills and respiratory horns are absent
Truly aquatic forms have external spiracular openings on abdominal segments 3 &4 are enlarged
(Williams, 1992 pg. 100)
Aquatic caterpillars have three pairs of thoracic legs and pairs of prolegs ringed with hook-like crochets on abdominal segments three to seven
Aquatic are mostly recognized by the numerous filamentous gills covering their body and by those that live in portable cases made of aquatic vegetation
(Thorp, 1991 pg.618)
Adults:
Moth like with overlapping, flat scales on the body

Legs and both pairs or wings

Some species have oar Ð like fringe of hair on the metathoracic leg for swimming

Mouth part- tube-like siphon formed from the modified galeae of the maxillae

Antennae are well developed but shorter than the body