THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

Aquatic Invertebrates in Pacific Northwest Freshwater Wetlands
An Identification Guide and Educational Resource

Members of this family are common and widespread, but do not commonly occur in wetlands. The square, log cabin-like cases are a trademark of Brachycentrus species. The other common genera (Micrasema and Amiocentrus) are easily overlooked unless samples are examined under a microscope.

Most humpless case makers eat and live among small aquatic plants (mosses, filamentous algae) or filter material from flowing water. They live in streams and rivers with moderate to fast currents. None are tolerant of human disturbance.

The humpless case maker caddisflies are so named because they lack humps on the sides or top of the first abdominal segment. They do have a plate on top of their mesonotum.