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Insects have evolved complex and diverse visual systems in which light-sensing protein molecules called "opsins" couple with a chromophore to form photopigments. Insect photopigments group into three major gene families based on wavelength sensitivity: long wavelength (LW), short wavelength (SW), and ultraviolet wavelength (UV). In this study, we identified 123 opsin sequences from whole-genome assemblies across 25 caddisfly species (Insecta: Trichoptera). We discovered the LW opsins have the most diversity across species and form two separate clades in the opsin gene tree. Conversely, we observed a loss of the SW opsin in half of the trichopteran species in this study, which might be associated with the fact that caddisflies are active during low-light conditions. Lastly, we found a single copy of the UV opsin in all the species in this study, with one exception: Athripsodes cinereus has two copies of the UV opsin and resides within a clade of caddisflies with colorful wing patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we describe 47 new Trichoptera species most of them from Georgia: Wormaldia kala sp. nov., W. khizabavra sp. nov., W. kokoa sp. nov., W. kulbaka sp. nov., W. lopota sp. nov., W. varjanulia sp. nov., Tinodes abana sp. nov., Plectrocnemia zekaria sp. nov., Hydropsyche adjaria sp. nov., H. gouria sp. nov., H. svanetica sp. nov., Rhyacophila aragva sp. nov., R. chakvistskala sp. nov., R. kakhetia sp. nov., R. kokoa sp. nov., R. namona sp. nov., Agapetus kintrisha sp. nov., Thremma balcanum sp. nov., T. svaneticum sp. nov., Martynomyia svanetia sp. nov., M. zazai sp. nov., Apataniana bakhmara sp. nov., A. gouria sp. nov., Drusus stephantsmind sp. nov., Badukiella markha sp. nov., Kelgena bakhmara sp. nov., K. bellae sp. nov., K. goderdza sp. nov., K. lapankura sp. nov., K. levani sp. nov., K. samtskha sp. nov., K. tetnulda sp. nov., K. tobara sp. nov., K. vekona sp. nov., Rizeiella keda sp. nov., R. sashuala sp. nov., R. tbetia sp. nov., R. varjana sp. nov., Stenophylax almat sp. nov., S. kulbak sp. nov., Ernodes bakhmarensis sp. nov., E. mingreliensis sp. nov., Schizopelex akhalchala sp. nov., S. mingrelia sp. nov., S. jvaria sp. nov., S. masula sp. nov., S. nazhala sp. nov. Moreover, 9 other species are new for Georgia: Wormaldia hoska Oláh, 2020, W. obola Oláh, 2020, W. sakaorum Oláh, 2020, Diplectrona robusta Martynov, 1934, Rhyacophila kora Oláh, 2020, Agapetus caucasicus Martynov, 1913, Lepidostoma iranicum Schmid, 1959, Grammotaulius nigropunctatus (Retzius, 1783) and Ernodes ordubadensis Oláh & Kerimova, 2020. The family Uenoidae and the genus Thremma are new for Georgia.

Caddisflies (Trichoptera) are among the most diverse groups of freshwater animals with more than 16 000 described species. They play a fundamental role in freshwater ecology and environmental engineering in streams, rivers and lakes. Because of this, they are frequently used as indicator organisms in biomonitoring programmes. Despite their importance, key questions concerning the evolutionary history of caddisflies, such as the timing and origin of larval case making, remain unanswered owing to the lack of a well-resolved phylogeny. Here, we estimated a phylogenetic tree using a combination of transcriptomes and targeted enrichment data for 207 species, representing 48 of 52 extant families and 174 genera. We calibrated and dated the tree with 33 carefully selected fossils. The first caddisflies originated approximately 295 million years ago in the Permian, and major suborders began to diversify in the Triassic. Furthermore, we show that portable case making evolved in three separate lineages, and shifts in diversification occurred in concert with key evolutionary innovations beyond case making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FibH gene, crucial for silk spinning in insects, encodes a protein that significantly influences silk fiber mechanics. Due to its large size and repetitive sequences, limited known sequences of insect FibH impede comprehensive understanding. Here, we analyzed 114 complete FibH gene sequences from Lepidoptera (71 moths, 24 butterflies) and 13 Trichoptera, revealing single-copy FibH in most species, with 2–3 copies in Hesperinae and Heteropterinae (subfamily of skippers). All FibH genes are structured with two exons and one intron (39–45 bp), with the second exon being notably longer. Moths exhibit higher GC content in FibH compared to butterflies and Trichoptera. The FibH composition varies among species, with moths and butterflies favoring Ala, Gly, Ser, Pro, Gln, and Asn, while Trichoptera FibH is enriched in Gly, Ser, and Arg, and has less Ala. Unique to Trichoptera FibH are Tyr, Val, Arg, and Trp, whereas Lepidoptera FibH is marked by polyAla (polyalanine), polySer (polyserine), and the hexapeptide GAGSGA. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that Lepidoptera FibH evolved from Trichoptera, with skipper FibH evolving from Papilionoidea. This study substantially expands the FibH repertoire, providing a foundation for the development of artificial silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms inhabiting mountainous regions can experience large vertical environmental changes, and show different ecological characteristics between altitudes, thus facilitating allopatric fragmentation even in geographically close populations. This study compared the life‐history patterns of a species of limnephilid caddisfly, Asynarchus sachalinensis, in several genetically differentiated populations between alpine and sub‐alpine zones in a temperate mountainous region. We showed that in the sub‐alpine populations, larval development started earlier with increasing water temperature in spring, and adult emergence was also earlier. The occurrence of adults was extremely low in mid‐summer, probably due to summer diapause, followed by a larger number of ovary‐developed females in autumn. On the other hand, in the alpine zone, increasing water temperature was delayed compared to the sub‐alpine zone, and larval development occurred from early to mid‐summer. Adult emergence and ovary‐developed individuals were concentrated in mid‐summer. Hence, summer diapause was not observed. These results indicated life‐history differences between genetically differentiated populations at different altitudes. As the timing of adult occurrence and ovarian developmental patterns differ between populations at different altitudes, it is possible that reproductive isolation is facilitated or maintained between populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Organisms can respond to environmental gradients from local to landscape features. Aquatic insects are particularly affected by watershed peculiarities due to their dependence on microhabitat conditions. However, these relationships are poorly understood in lotic ecosystems of subtropical grasslands, limiting water resources management and bioassessment proposals. Here, we investigated how local stream environment and variations in landscape types affect the assemblage structure of a bioindicator insect group, face to the spatial proximity of the sampled locations. We sampled immatures of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera in streams along the Brazilian Pampa biome, recording environmental descriptors in different grassland ecosystem types. The structure of aquatic insect assemblages differed across grassland types, with specific dominant genera associated with each landscape. Spatially-structured water physicochemical descriptors explained a significant amount of variation in assemblage data. Our findings suggest that grassland ecosystem type delimitations capture ecological attributes, influencing watershed features important to EPT assemblage structuration. Moreover, we highlight the importance of niche-based process structuring EPT assemblages along grassland ecosystem types of Pampa biome. In addition, we encourage using aquatic insects in bioassessment of lotic waters to assess local and landscape environmental impacts. We strongly recommend considering the grassland ecosystem schedule for water resources management and bioassessment proposals.

Tests for the role of species' relative dispersal abilities in ecological and biogeographical models rely heavily on dispersal proxies, which are seldom substantiated by empirical measures of actual dispersal. This is exemplified by tests of dispersal–range size relationships and by metacommunity research that often features invertebrates, particularly freshwater insects. Using rare and unique empirical data on dispersal abilities of caddisflies, we tested whether actual dispersal abilities were associated with commonly used dispersal proxies (metrics of wing size and shape; expert opinion). Across 59 species in 12 families, wing morphology was not associated with actual dispersal. Within some families, individual wing metrics captured some dispersal differences among species, although useful metrics varied among families and predictive power was typically low. Dispersal abilities assigned by experts were either no better than random or actually poorer than random. Our results cast considerable doubt on research underpinned by dispersal proxies and scrutiny of previous research results may be warranted. Greater progress may lie in employing innovative survey and experimental design to measure actual dispersal in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Molanna angustata (cased caddisfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Molannidae). The genome sequence is 994.9 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 27 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 14.92 kilobases in length.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Mystacides longicornis (cased caddisfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Leptoceridae). The genome sequence is 665.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 20 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.75 kilobases in length.

Abstract Organisms inhabiting mountainous regions can experience large vertical environmental changes, and show different ecological characteristics between altitudes, thus facilitating allopatric fragmentation even in geographically close populations. This study compared the life‐history patterns of a species of limnephilid caddisfly, Asynarchus sachalinensis, in several genetically differentiated populations between alpine and sub‐alpine zones in a temperate mountainous region. We showed that in the sub‐alpine populations, larval development started earlier with increasing water temperature in spring, and adult emergence was also earlier. The occurrence of adults was extremely low in mid‐summer, probably due to summer diapause, followed by a larger number of ovary‐developed females in autumn. On the other hand, in the alpine zone, increasing water temperature was delayed compared to the sub‐alpine zone, and larval development occurred from early to mid‐summer. Adult emergence and ovary‐developed individuals were concentrated in mid‐summer. Hence, summer diapause was not observed. These results indicated life‐history differences between genetically differentiated populations at different altitudes. As the timing of adult occurrence and ovarian developmental patterns differ between populations at different altitudes, it is possible that reproductive isolation is facilitated or maintained between populations.

Temperature is a key factor that shapes the distribution of organisms. Having knowledge about how species respond to temperature is relevant to devise strategies for addressing the impacts of climate change. Aquatic insects are particularly vulnerable to climate change, yet there is still much to learn about their ecology and distribution. In the Yungas ecoregion of Northwestern Argentina, cold- and warm-adapted species of the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) are segregated by elevation. We modeled the ecological niche of South American EPT species in this region using available data and projected their potential distribution in geographic space. Species were grouped based on their ecogeographic similarity, and we analyzed their replacement pattern along elevation gradients, focusing on the ecotone where opposing thermal preferences converge. Along this interface, we identified critical points where the combined incidence of cold and warm assemblages maximizes, indicating a significant transition zone. We found that the Montane Cloud Forest holds the interface, with a particularly greater suitability at its lower boundary. The main axis of the interface runs in a N-S direction and falls between 14°C–16°C mean annual isotherms. The probability of a particular location within a basin being classified as part of the interface increases as Kira's warmth index approaches a score around 150. Understanding the interface is critical for defining the thermal limits of species distribution and designing biomonitoring programs. Changes in the location of thermal constants related to mountainous ecotones may cause vertical displacement of aquatic insects and vegetation communities. We have recognized significant temperature thresholds that serve as indicators of suitability for the interface. As global warming is anticipated to shift these indicators, we suggest using them to monitor the imprints of climate change on mountain ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Integral to many ecological models is the notion that dispersal connects populations and communities in disparate locations. For stream insects, however, there is very little empirical information about which species and what proportion of the species in a community are likely to disperse, in what direction and how far they travel, and whether dispersal is successful in connecting populations and communities. This study examines whether species of caddisfly can disperse between catchments and potentially connect communities. 2. We used a novel sampling design comprising five pairs of streams. Each stream in a pair flowed from the same boundary, but in opposite directions and into isolated catchments. We surveyed abundances of adult caddisflies on the catchment boundary (boundary species) where there was no water (Up location), and on two locations per stream (Middle, Down locations) where there was permanently flowing water (resident species). If caddisflies fly along the topographic features of stream valleys, then we expected to find adults on the ridge between catchments and, if dispersal is successful, stream communities in adjacent catchments should have similar species composition. 3. Over 130 species of caddisfly (from 18 families) were collected. Approximately half of them occurred on at least one catchment boundary, and Up locations averaged almost 20 species. Boundary species included both the smallest‐ and largest‐bodied taxa and they were a near perfect subset of species in resident assemblages. However, boundary species were not simply the most common in resident assemblages. There was no evidence of sex‐biased dispersal. Unsurprisingly, assemblage composition varied across the landscape, within and among catchments. However, resident assemblages within stream pairs were significantly more similar to one another than unpaired streams in either the same or in different catchments. 4. Our results suggest that a surprisingly diverse set of caddisflies disperse up to catchment boundaries and potentially connect streams on either side of catchment divides. Nevertheless, many other caddisfly species were never recorded at Up sites and hence may never or only rarely reach catchment boundaries. 5. These outcomes suggest, firstly, that some caddisflies are capable of trans‐catchment dispersal but it is incorrect to assume that all caddisflies are good dispersers, as is often stated in the literature. Secondly, caddisfly assemblages in headwater streams may be less isolated than is often considered and the dendritic structure of stream networks may be less important for their distribution patterns than the proximity of tributaries in neighbouring catchments, in many landscapes. Trans‐catchment dispersal could ensure community connectivity and facilitate recovery after catchment‐wide extinctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natura Croatica is the property of Natura Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Six new species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) are herein described and illustrated: Cerasmatrichia armitagei sp. n., Metrichia hocica sp. n., Neotrichia majagua sp. n., N. solapa sp. n., Ochrotrichia latigiza sp. n., and O. ngabebuglea sp. n. These species were collected in western Panama from the Río Majagua watershed descending from Volcán Barú and Quebrada Martínez, a first-order stream in the Río Guabo watershed of the Bosque Protector Palo Seco. Metrichia quadrata (Flint, 1972) and Ochrotrichia filiforma Flint, 1972 are recorded for the first time from Panama. Two recently described species, Metrichia trebeki Harris and Armitage, 2019 and Ochrotrichia alma Thomson and Armitage, 2021 are reported for the second time from the country. The Republic of Panama now has 487 species of caddisflies distributed among 15 families and 56 genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In temperate and tropical rivers, macroinvertebrates are commonly utilised for biological monitoring. Therefore, it is important to understand their functional feeding guilds and assemblage structure. However, there have been few studies in high‐altitude rivers in East Africa aimed at assessing macroinvertebrate functional guilds. In this study, we examined the macroinvertebrate assemblage characteristics using abundance/diversity metrics and the functional feeding groups (FFGs). We collected physicochemical data and macroinvertebrate samples at seven sites along the Gura River and three sites on the Sagana River. Dissolved oxygen concentration, water temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, ammonia, and soluble reactive phosphorus showed significant differences among the sites (p < 0.05). A total of 32 families belonging to 11 orders of macroinvertebrates were collected during the study period. Overall, scrapers were the most abundant FFG, dominated by Heptageniidae (Afronurus). Collector filters and collector gatherers were the second most abundant, while shredders and predators exhibited the least relative abundance. Across all the dominant orders, macroinvertebrate abundance decreased from upstream to downstream sites, with upstream sites exhibiting high diversity and abundance of Ephemeroptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Trichoptera taxa. Furthermore, the FFGs in this study differed widely from the River Continuum Concept predictions. Our findings provide crucial understanding of macroinvertebrate assemblage characteristics in high‐altitude rivers. Thus, this study provides additional evidence on the high abundance and diversity of Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera taxa in tropical rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Odontocerum albicorne (the Grey Sedge caddis fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Odontoceridae). The genome sequence is 1,287.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.57 kilobases in length.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Limnephilus auricula (a caddisfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Limnephilidae). The genome sequence is 971.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.29 kilobases in length.

Mountain freshwater communities are generally considered sensible to accelerated climatic changes, though their vulnerabilities have not been well evaluated. Individual species or species groups are expected to respond differently depending on their adaptations, traits, or distributions, but this has not yet been distinguished. This work used available climate change vulnerability scores (ccvs) of European Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) species (n = 1,402) to (1) compare the vulnerability between species pools of different ecoregions including alpine species and alpine endemics, (2) contrast the vulnerability between the different insect orders, and (3) assess the altitude–vulnerability relationship within the European Alps. We revealed fifty alpine Plecoptera and Trichoptera species that are categorized highly vulnerable to climate change effects (= 31 percent of all highly vulnerable European species) with the highest proportions in species inventories of alpine endemics and high-altitude waters (51 percent of high-altitude species are classified as highly vulnerable). The ccvs analysis specifically for mountain waters shows that a disproportionately high number of alpine species, and particularly alpine endemics, will be affected by climate change and suggests that Ephemeroptera may be better prepared than Plecoptera and Trichoptera. Thus, this trait-based evaluation suggests that mountain stream invertebrate communities are undergoing disproportionate restructurings in response to climate change effects more than lowland communities are.

New caddisflies of the families Necrotauliidae and Philopotamidae are described from the Jurassic of Asia. Karataulius martae sp. nov., Archiphilopotamus expectatus sp. nov. and Juraphilopotamus inopinatus sp. nov. are described from the Upper Jurassic (Karabastau Formation) locality of Karatau in South Kazakhstan, and Necrotaulius communis sp. nov. and Juraphilopotamus similis sp. nov. are described from the Middle Jurassic (Itat Formation) locality of Kubekovo, Krasnoyarsk Region. Keys for species of the genera Archiphilopotamus Sukatsheva, 1985 and Juraphilopotamus Wang, Zhao et Ren, 2009 are proposed. The stratigraphic and geographical distribution of the Mesozoic representatives of the Philopotamidae are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about Lateglacial environments in the North Sea, the so-called Doggerland. Here we report on submerged lake sediments from the north-eastern part of the North Sea, found in sediment core JR-14. The core contained Holocene marine sand underlain by clay and clay-gyttja with plant and invertebrate remains and sand without plant remains, interpreted as glaciofluvial sand. Radiocarbon dating of terrestrial plant remains from the Lateglacial sediments gave ages between 12 300 and 14 100 cal a BP, corresponding to the early part of the Younger Dryas stadial and the Bølling-Allerød interstadial. The Lateglacial sediments contained remains of Betula nana , Salix and Dryas plants indicating a tundra-like open landscape with dwarf shrub heaths, which is typical for the region. The sediments contained a diverse assemblage of bryophytes that throws light on the Lateglacial bryoflora of the region. Remains of macrolimnophytes indicate shallow carbonate-rich, cool lake waters. Remains of larvae of Trichoptera and Chironomidae dominated the invertebrate fauna and indicate a fairly species-rich fauna. The presence of lake sediments at ∼32.9–34.5 m below sea level shows that this part of the North Sea had not been transgressed by the sea during the Lateglacial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Odontocerum albicorne (the Grey Sedge caddis fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Odontoceridae). The genome sequence is 1,287.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.57 kilobases in length.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Athripsodes cinereus (the Brown Silverhorn; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Leptoceridae). The genome sequence is 716.2 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 25 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 14.93 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 16,582 protein coding genes.

Headwater Chilostigman Caddisfly (Chilostigma itascae) is an enigmatic winter-active caddisfly previously reported solely from Minnesota. This note reports the first Canadian records from southern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main tributary of the Yamuna, the Tons River, exhibits altitudinal changes in its macroinvertebrate community's diversity, abundance, and composition. Between May 2019 and April 2021, the study was conducted in the upper section of the river. A total of 48 numbers of taxa from 34 families and ten orders were recorded during the investigation. At this elevation of 1150 to 1287 m, the two most predominant orders are Ephemeroptera (32.9%) and Trichoptera (29.5%). During the premonsoon season, they had the lowest macroinvertebrate density (250–290 individuals/m2), and the post-monsoon season had the highest density (600–640 individuals/m2). During the post-monsoon season, the maximum larval forms (60%) of various insect orders were predominant. The findings indicated that lower altitudes (1150–1232 m) have higher macroinvertebrate abundance than higher ones. The diversity of dominance is shallow at site-I (0.0738) and strong at the site-IV during the premonsoon season (0.03837). Taxa richness, as measured by the Margalef index (D), peaked in the spring season (January to March) at 6.9 and reached its lowest point (5.74) in the premonsoon season (April to May). Only 16 taxa were discovered in site-I and site-II, but 39 taxa were discovered at low altitudes (site-IV, 1100 m) (1277–1287 m). The Tons River contains a total of 12 and 13 genera, respectively, that belong to the orders Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, according to qualitative study of the macroinvertebrates. The current study supports the use of macroinvertebrates as bioindicator species for monitoring biodiversity and assessing the health of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caddisflies comprise a major component of the macroinvertebrate diversity of streams throughout the world. We studied temporal variation in the abundance and diversity of caddisflies of six streams in the monsoonal wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. Abundance and diversity of adult caddisflies were highly seasonal with most activity within wet season months from January to April, with a synchronous pulse of activity in the mid-dry season in two of the three years of study at some sites. Modelling of species richness showed variability among sites in the seasonal patterns of species richness. Multivariate analysis identified seasonal change in assemblage composition. These results are relevant to the design of biodiversity studies on seasonally flowing streams. Surveys of caddisfly diversity are most effectively undertaken during and after the wet season: repeated surveys are required to maximise the detection of the full suite of species occurring at a site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic insects comprise 10% of all insect diversity, can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and are key components of freshwater ecosystems. However, aquatic insect genome biology lags dramatically behind that of terrestrial insects. If genomic effort was spread evenly, one aquatic insect genome would be sequenced for every ~9 terrestrial insect genomes. Instead, ~24 terrestrial insect genomes have been sequenced for every aquatic insect genome. This discrepancy is even more dramatic if the quality of genomic resources is considered; for instance, while no aquatic insect genome has been assembled to the chromosome level, 29 terrestrial insect genomes spanning four orders have. We argue that a lack of aquatic insect genomes is not due to any underlying difficulty (e.g., small body sizes or unusually large genomes), yet it is severely hampering aquatic insect research at both fundamental and applied scales. By expanding the availability of aquatic insect genomes, we will gain key insight into insect diversification and empower future research for a globally important taxonomic group.

This study was carried out to determine the biodiversity and densities of Trichoptera larvae at stations in the Kastamonu (Cide)-Sinop (Ayancık) coastal region. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected from each of the 19 stations using the kick-net sampling method with a D-frame net (500-μm mesh). Using the data from collected Trichoptera larvae, the similarity, diversity, dominance and population density relationships among habitats were measured. According to the calculated Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity index results, the station with the highest Trichoptera diversity was determined at S2, and the station with the least diversity was S14. Similar results were obtained for the calculated population density values. Station S2 was the most balanced station in population density. Thus, biodiversity was directly related to habitat structure, anthropogenic impact and geographical conditions, and environmental factors suppress biological species diversity. It was concluded that species diversity is greater in undestroyed habitats and less in heavily destroyed habitats. In addition, the species that dominate in biodiversity similarity rates prefer their habitat.

The Trichoptera are an important component of freshwater ecosystems. In the Iberian Peninsula, 380 taxa of caddisflies are known, with nearly 1/3 of the total species being endemic in the region. A reference collection of morphologically identified Trichoptera specimens, representing 142 Iberian taxa, was constructed. The InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI) Trichoptera 01 dataset contains records of 438 sequenced specimens. The species of this dataset correspond to about 37% of Iberian Trichoptera species diversity. Specimens were collected between 1975 and 2018 and are deposited in the IBI collection at the CIBIO (Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Portugal) or in the collection Marcos A. González at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain).Twenty-nine species, from nine different families, were new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). A success identification rate of over 80% was achieved when comparing morphological identifications and DNA barcodes for the species analysed. This encouraging step advances incorporation of informed Environmental DNA tools in biomonitoring schemes, given the shortcomings of morphological identifications of larvae and adult Caddisflies in such studies. DNA barcoding was not successful in identifying species in six Trichoptera genera: Hydropsyche (Hydropsychidae), Athripsodes (Leptoceridae), Wormaldia (Philopotamidae), Polycentropus (Polycentropodidae) Rhyacophila (Rhyacophilidae) and Sericostoma (Sericostomatidae). The high levels of intraspecific genetic variability found, combined with a lack of a barcode gap and a challenging morphological identification, rendered these species as needing additional studies to resolve their taxonomy.

Based on newly collected materials here we report new faunistic data for this diverse island and describe five new leptocerid species from the Batanta Island (Indonesia, West Papua, Raja Ampat Archipelago): Oecetis anyam Oláh, sp. nov., O. apam Oláh, sp. nov., O. batanta Oláh, sp. nov., Leptocerus batanta Oláh, sp. nov. Setodes sarlos Oláh, sp. nov. As well as to clear the taxonomic status of Oecetis anyam Oláh, sp. nov. it was necessary to survey the unsettled species group of Oecetis hemerobioides with description of new species from Indonesia, Sumba Island: Oecetis sumbaensis Oláh, sp. nov. and from the Cyclops Mountain of West Papua: Oecetis cyclopensis Oláh, sp. nov.

Motivation: Aquatic insects comprise 64% of freshwater animal diversity and are widely used as bioindicators to assess water quality impairment and freshwater ecosystem health, as well as to test ecological hypotheses. Despite their importance, a comprehensive, global database of aquatic insect occurrences for mapping freshwater biodiversity in macroecological studies and applied freshwater research is missing. We aim to fill this gap and present the Global EPTO Database, which includes worldwide geo‐referenced aquatic insect occurrence records for four major taxa groups: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata (EPTO). Main type of variables contained: A total of 8,368,467 occurrence records globally, of which 8,319,689 (99%) are publicly available. The records are attributed to the corresponding drainage basin and sub‐catchment based on the Hydrography90m dataset and are accompanied by the elevation value, the freshwater ecoregion and the protection status of their location. Spatial location and grain: The database covers the global extent, with 86% of the observation records having coordinates with at least four decimal digits (11.1 m precision at the equator) in the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) coordinate reference system. Time period and grain: Sampling years span from 1951 to 2021. Ninety‐nine percent of the records have information on the year of the observation, 95% on the year and month, while 94% have a complete date. In the case of seven sub‐datasets, exact dates can be retrieved upon communication with the data contributors. Major taxa and level of measurement: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata, standardized at the genus taxonomic level. We provide species names for 7,727,980 (93%) records without further taxonomic verification. Software format: The entire tab‐separated value (.csv) database can be downloaded and visualized at https://glowabio.org/project/epto%5fdatabase/. Fifty individual datasets are also available at https://fred.igb‐berlin.de, while six datasets have restricted access. For the latter, we share metadata and the contact details of the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Oviposition is a critical step in the life cycles of aquatic insects. Adult caddisflies exhibit a variety of oviposition methods. In some species, females enter freshwaters to oviposit on submerged substrates. Here, we compile information on North American caddisflies that are known to dive and swim to oviposit and have sexually dimorphic leg characteristics that may be adaptations for swimming, diving, or both. We also report unexpected underwater captures of adult females of 3 caddisfly species in Willamette Basin reservoirs in Oregon, USA, including the deepest dive depths ever recorded for adult female caddisflies. From these captures, we note sexually dimorphic leg widening in the species Hydropsyche centra Ross, 1938 for the first time, confirm widened mesothoracic leg segments of Hydropsyche occidentalis Banks, 1900 adult females, and note fringes of long hairs on meso- and metathoracic tibiae and basal tarsal segments of Hydroptila argosa Ross, 1938 females. We also note fringes of long hairs on the meso- and metathoracic legs of Hydroptila ajax Ross, 1938 females from the banks of the Willamette River. The presumed oviposition attempts of caddisflies underwater in large, deep reservoirs suggest that these caddisflies may misinterpret oviposition cues in altered habitats and waste reproductive efforts. Greater understanding of caddisfly oviposition methods and abilities may be important for long-term conservation and restoration efforts supporting biodiversity in freshwater habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative morphological study of the structure and distribution of sensilla on the maxillary and labial palps in caddisflies of the family Hydropsychidae was performed. Morphology of palpal sensilla was studied by scanning electron microscopy in 17 species from 12 genera. The palps of the studied species have four types of sensilla: long trichoid, chaetoid, campaniform, and petaloid; at the same time, no basiconic and pseudoplacoid sensilla were found on the palps. All the studied species lack apical sensory complexes at the tips of both pairs of palps, where only long chaetoid sensilla are present. Petaloid sensilla form sensory fields on the 4th (in Arctopsychinae) or on the 3rd and 4th segments (in Diplectroninae, Hydropsychinae, Macronematinae) of the maxillary palps, but sensilla of this type are never present on the labial palps. The sensory fields include from 5–10 sensilla in Hydropsychinae to 40 sensilla in Arctopsychinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population of the caddisfly Setodes argentipunctellus McLachlan, 1877 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) is reported from the West of Ireland at Ross Lake, Co. Galway. The species was previously known only from two lakes in the Killarney district in the south-west of the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malicky (2018) synonymized Tinodes karpathos Oláh, 2015 described from the Karpathos Island, Greece with Tinodes petaludes Malicky, 1974 described from the Rhodes Island. On the basis of re-examination of the T. karpathos holotype and compared it with the newly collected T. petaludes specimens the synonymy of the two species is rejected and Tinodes karpathos is reinstated here as a valid species, stat. restit.!

To date, relatively few data have been available regarding the parasitism of water mite larvae on caddisflies; most available information relates to the adult stadia, fewer to caddisfly larvae, with just single references to pupae. The present paper examines the occurrence (phoresy and parasitism) of Piona stjordalensis larvae (119 individuals) on the larvae and pupae of Mystacides longicornis. It is possible that water mite larvae exhibit a new type of parasitism on caddisflies, with two consecutive parasitic larval stadia: one on the pupa, the other on the imago.

The Balkan mountain ranges represent the most diverse hot spots of the European biodiversity still very far from being completely explored. Besides new faunistic data here we have described Drusus gornistok Oláh, sp. nov. in the D. discophorus species complex, surveyed four species complexes and described Polycentropus maglic Oláh, sp. nov. , P. staraplanina Oláh, sp. nov. in the Polycentropus ierapetra new species complex; Rhyacophila albanica Oláh & Ibrahimi sp. nov., R. montenegra Oláh, sp. nov. , R. syrikaltera Oláh & Ibrahimi sp. nov. in the Rhyacophila balcanica new species complex; R. kozara Oláh, sp. nov. , R. sarplana Oláh, sp. nov. , R. staraplana Oláh, sp. nov. in the Rhyacophila bosnica new species complex; Notidobia kerkina Oláh, sp. nov. , N. koraba Oláh, sp. nov. , N. lakmosa Oláh, sp. nov. , N. vaillanti Oláh, Vinçon & Ibrahimi sp. nov. in the Notidobia nekibe new species complex. The subspecies status of the following taxa were raised to species rank: Polycentropus adana Sipahiler, 1996 stat. nov., P. anatolica Sipahiler, 1989 stat. nov., P. dirfis Malicky, 1974 stat. nov., P. ikaria Malicky, 1974 stat. nov., P. isparta Sipahiler, 1996 stat. nov., P. kalliope Malicky, 1976 stat. nov., P. septentrionalis Kumanski, 1986, stat. nov., P. slovenicus Malicky, 1998 stat. nov.

Climate change is leading many species to shift their geographical ranges. Species undergoing these range shifts often are moving into areas with heterogeneous abiotic conditions. Additionally, these range‐shifting species will encounter resident species with whom they will compete for space and/or resources. However, the ways that these abiotic and biotic factors interact to influence the establishment and persistence of range‐shifting species has received little attention.Here, we conduct an in situ cage experiment examining how a local wetland hydroperiod gradient (i.e., temporary and semi‐permanent ponds) and competition with a resident caddisfly species, Asynarchus nigriculus, influences the survival of the range‐shifting species Limnephilus picturatus. We then use long‐term survey data of population densities of these two species to determine whether pairwise interactions observed in the cage experiment translated into long‐term dynamics.The cage experiment revealed that A. nigriculus had a strong, negative effect on the survival of the range‐shifting species L. picturatus, regardless of hydroperiod. However, we observed no relationship between the densities or occurrence of L. picturatus and A. nigriculus in long‐term data for either temporary or semi‐permanent ponds.Our results suggest that landscape‐level abiotic heterogeneity at range margins may not always be important for mediating antagonistic interactions between resident and range‐shifting species. However, although an interaction appears ecologically significant in short‐term field studies, broader context is needed to understand whether those types of interactions mediate species' distributions and abundance through time.At face‐value, our results from the field experiment and long‐term data analysis did not align. This suggests that other factors such as additional competitive or trophic interactions may be more important drivers behind the population dynamics of this range‐shifting species at its new upper‐elevational limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of all Triassic caddisflies is compiled, and their stratigraphic and geographical distribution is discussed. New caddisfly species of the families Cladochoristidae: Cladochorista curta sp. nov. and Cladochoristella sola sp. nov., and Prorhyacophilidae: Prorhyacophila rara sp. nov. and P. batkenica sp. nov are described from the Dzhayloucho locality in Kyrgyzstan (Middle–Upper Triassic, Madygen Formation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microcaddisfly (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) fauna is catalogued from a review of more than 1,300 literature citations through the end of 2020 to include 2,665 currently recognized, valid species in six sub families and 76 genera. Fourteen subspecies are included in the total as well as 23 fossil species and three fossil genera. The family Ptilocolepidae (Trichoptera), also covered in this catalogue, comprises 19 valid species in two genera; two subspecies and two fossil species are included in the total. The monotypic genus Eutonella, currently considered incertae sedis within Trichoptera, was formerly placed in Hydroptilidae and is also included in this catalogue. Genus-group and species-group synonyms are listed. Information on the type locality, type depository, sex of type, distribution by country, and other relevant taxonomic or biological information is included for each nominal species. Summary information on taxonomy, phylog)eny, distribution, immature stages, and biology are provided for each subfamily, tribe, and genus where known. An index to all nominal taxa is provided to facilitate catalog use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review of the status of Australian caddisflies focuses on publications from 1982 to 2022. Information is provided on new species described in that period, new keys, new descriptions of both adults and larvae, and the distribution of families and genera from states/regions and the Northern Territory. Australia's caddisfly fauna now totals 27 families, 111 genera and 868 species, with 97.9% of species endemic to Australia (only 19 of the 868 species are known from outside Australia, mainly from the nearby island of New Guinea - Papua New Guinea and Papua Province, Indonesia); some species also extend into New Zealand and South-East Asia. The biogeography of the Australian fauna is discussed briefly in terms of "northern" and "southern" faunal elements, faunal provinces, distributional barriers, areas of highest biodiversity and refuge areas. Northern and southern elements in the Australian Trichoptera fauna are indicated. The highest biodiversity is recorded in the following states/regions: New South Wales with 263 species, northern Queensland (N-Qld) with 248 species and Victoria with 247 species. The highest endemicity is in southern Western Australia (S-WA), with 73% endemic species, followed by N-Qld with 58% and Tasmania with 57%. The lowest numbers of species have been recorded from South Australia and S-WA, with 42 and 49 species respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain freshwater communities are generally considered sensible to accelerated climatic changes, though their vulnerabilities have not been well evaluated. Individual species or species groups are expected to respond differently depending on their adaptations, traits, or distributions, but this has not yet been distinguished. This work used available climate change vulnerability scores (ccvs) of European Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) species (n = 1,402) to (1) compare the vulnerability between species pools of different ecoregions including alpine species and alpine endemics, (2) contrast the vulnerability between the different insect orders, and (3) assess the altitude–vulnerability relationship within the European Alps. We revealed fifty alpine Plecoptera and Trichoptera species that are categorized highly vulnerable to climate change effects (= 31 percent of all highly vulnerable European species) with the highest proportions in species inventories of alpine endemics and high-altitude waters (51 percent of high-altitude species are classified as highly vulnerable). The ccvs analysis specifically for mountain waters shows that a disproportionately high number of alpine species, and particularly alpine endemics, will be affected by climate change and suggests that Ephemeroptera may be better prepared than Plecoptera and Trichoptera. Thus, this trait-based evaluation suggests that mountain stream invertebrate communities are undergoing disproportionate restructurings in response to climate change effects more than lowland communities are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is substantial support for the river continuum concept (RCC) using aquatic macroinvertebrates, nearly all of this support has come from studies using benthic specimen counts or relative biomass as the basis for comparing sites. We instead assessed the RCC using the ash-free dry mass (AFDM) of winged adult Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) specimens. Insects were sampled at 13 sites along a 100 km 2nd–4th order reach of the Pine River in northern Lower Michigan using ultraviolet lights. Specimens were identified to the genus level and the AFDM of each functional feeding group (FFG) was calculated. Forty-two environmental and river morphological variables were tested for their ability to predict differences in EPT FFG biomass. A determined environmental gradient relating to increasing river size predicted over 80% of FFG biomass differences. Biomass of each individual FFG increased along the determined gradient, except for scrapers which decreased at the most downstream sites. The number of EPT genera also increased along the gradient. Our results were similar to those of previous studies, except that shredders nearly doubled in importance compared to RCC predictions, suggesting a greater ecological impact of shredders on forested streams than is typically reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a genome assembly from an individual Limnephilus marmoratus (a caddisfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Limnephilidae). The genome sequence is 1,630 megabases in span. Most of the assembly (99.93%) is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.

We present a genome assembly from an individual Limnephilus lunatus (a caddisfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Limnephilidae). The genome sequence is 1,270 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases long.