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 Major Groups | Insecta (insects) | Trichoptera (caddisflies) | Tasimiidae
 

Tasimiidae

Major Group: Insecta
Order: Trichoptera
Family: Tasimiidae

Descriptive Features:

  • head rounded, eyes bulging
  • head and pronotum sclerotised
  • pronotum with anterolateral corners rounded or acute
  • posterior flange broad or narrow
  • mesonotum with pair of large sclerites
  • metanotum with 2 pairs of small sclerites
  • abdomen with strongly developed lateral fringe of setae
  • abdominal gills present
  • Total length: 5 to 6 mm
  • Case: Dorsoventrally flattened made of small stones, with ventral opening.

    • Taxonomic Checklist: Genera
    Tasiagma
    Tasimia

    Distribution: Tas, Vic, NSW, Qld, SE SA

    Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 8

    Functional Feeding Group: scrapers

    Ecology: Instream habitat: Tasimiid larvae occur in clear, fast flowing, cold mountain streams. They are found on rocks.
    Feeding ecology: Larvae graze on benthic algae and fine organic particles.
    Habit: Larvae construct tubular cases from small stones with larger pieces along the sides. Lateral humps on the first abdominal segments help the animal to move across rocks in fast-flowing water. The larva pulls itself partially out of its case and uses the ring of hooks on the humps to cling to the rock surface.
    Life history: Final instar larvae crawl to the stream banks before pupating and fix their cases under the water’s surface. Collections of these cases can accumulate over time, with several years’ worth of pupal cases layered on top of one another. Tasiagma ciliata does not have a synchronised mass emergence of adults.
     
     
    Information Sources: Cartwright 1997, Dean et al 2004, Williams 1980, Neboiss 2003, Gooderham & Tsyrlin 2002, Hughes et al. 1998
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