Trichoptera: The Caddisflies - Order Spotlight 

After rewatching, I realized that question 4 was answered in this video. But I would like to add one more general question about this group of insects ! 6) Can two butterflies, moths, caddisflies or any pupae that requires a cocoon to "evolve" share a cocoon? What would happen if this were to occur?

@@funk3795 Hi! Thank you for the support - let me see if I can answer some of these questions! 1) Caddisflies and Lepidoptera sex determination is genetic - so to my knowledge trichoptera sex is set still as larvae. However Lepidoptera can have androgynous individuals (Gynandromorphism) and this can occur in trichoptera too though more rare. 2) Caddisflies spend the bulk of their time as larvae. A couple weeks as an egg, close to a year most of the time as larvae, couple weeks as pupae, couple weeks as adult. This can vary. Most are Univoltine (1 generation per year) but some are polyvoltine (multiple generations a year) 3) Most caddisflies are going to be found in freshwater but some groups can be found in saltwater environments such as the Chathamiidae (tide pools) 5) Even for the aquatic Trichoptera, trees play an important role by shading waterways (temperature regulation), stabilizing soil with their roots, and providing nutrient input into the waterway through leaflitter, fruiting bodies, and the attraction of other organisms. 6) So the cocoon itself is just a silken covering. The pupae is the actual insect. The pupae cannot be shared because this is the exoskeleton of the insect. It sheds its larval exuviae and the pupal case is underneath. If caddisflies shared a cocoon that would just be two pupae under one long extended silk covering - which I guess could cause issues if one hatches earlier and disrupts the silken coating for the other but thats about it. I hope this helps!

@insectspotlightproject thank you so much! A follow up; could question 6 apply to butterflies and/or moths? Or is that cocoon also a part of their pupae exoskeleton? I realize this is all being theorized and appreciate your input. I am trying to find a link between caddisflies and or butterflies/moths with a specific character in a popular movie/series that would have huge implications for its sequel, which have fans deep diving into the lore of the universe. Nerd stuff, but good stuff. Incase you were wondering!

@@funk3795 Haha no worries! So in butterflies the "Chrysalis" is just their pupae - the outer shell being their exoskeleton. Moths will often spin cocoons around their pupae. Both have pupae with an outer exoskeleton - it's just a matter of if the species spins a silken coating (cocoon) around that pupae.

@@insectspotlightproject much love, appreciate it. I believe I know a bit more than I did before, albeit it wasn't much. Cheers!

Thank you so much! So far so good, we're gonna keep at it 🤙

Thanks so much! 😄

We movin up! 🙏

Of course! Happy to help - best of luck on your exam!

Thanks so much!!

The fact that evolutionary pressure can invent such complex materials will never cease to impress me

I heard about some artists doing that! Looked up the images and theyre awesome!

Thank you! 😄

@@insectspotlightproject of course, love your videos

Thank you so much for all the support! 🙌

Of course! So happy to help. Majored in entomology myself and a big part of starting this channel was the lack of easily understandable, succinct, and accurate info. Thank you so much for the support!

Of course! Glad it's reaching the right people! 😁

Haha I would definitely do a double take - I know there are also a select couple species of actual land caddisflies but I haven't personally seen one of those either

Thank you! I guess it is about time I work in an arachnid video - Ill try to work one in after my next one!

Bug Pokemon Supremacy 🙌

@@insectspotlightproject as someone who collects bug Pokémon cards I completely agree!! Love the bug catcher figurine!

What do you think of them using the word "bug" to describe more than hemipterans?

@@noeditbookreviews haha I actually still sometimes use bug to describe any creepy crawlies. I think at this point it’s colloquially too established and we roll with it, and let the hemipterans be the TRUE bugs