Major Group: Insecta
Order: Trichoptera
Family: Helicopsychidae
Genus: Helicopsyche
This family is represented in Australia by a single genus, Helicopsyche.
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Descriptive Features: Helicopsyche larvae are unique in Australia in having a helical shaped body and case. Only features of the head and pronotum were found to be useful in identification.
head usually flattened dorsally to some degree and with carinae
antennae minute, positioned near the front margin of the head capsule
ventral apotome very difficult to discern due to the very light sclerotization on the head ventrally
pronotum heavily sclerotised, bearing long setae and short spines
metanotum usually very pale so the shape of the sclerites is difficult to discern, usually 3 main sclerites and a very small 4th sclerite medially, posteriorly
legs short, hind leg about 1 ½X length of foreleg
coxae often lightly sclerotised
gills usually absent but multifilament gills present on abdominal segment 1, lateral line absent
anal claw with a comb of small teeth
Total length: 10 mm
Case: Helical, no more than about 6 mm in diameter, made of sand grains.
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Helicopsyche sp. |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Species
(not all larvae known)
Helicopsyche albidela Johanson
Helicopsyche alicae Johanson
Helicopsyche bartona Mosely
Helicopsyche bellangrensis Johanson
Helicopsyche braueri Johanson
Helicopsyche cochleaetesta Korboot
Helicopsyche curva Johanson
Helicopsyche heacota Mosely
Helicopsyche kakadu Johanson
Helicopsyche neboissi Johanson
Helicopsyche murrumba Mosely
Helicopsyche ptychopteryx Brauer
Helicopsyche tillyardi Mosely
Helicopsyche tribulationa Johanson
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Distribution: N WA, NT, Tas, NSW, Qld, Vic
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 8
Functional Feeding Group: scrapers
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East Alligator River, Cahills Crossing NT |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Helicopsyche larvae are typically found in cool flowing streams but some species are found in warmer waters. They are found on stones and rocks.
Feeding ecology: Larvae graze on algae and fine organic material.
Habit: Larvae construct helical, snail-like, cases of sand grains, giving them the common name of ‘snail shell caddis’. All helicopsychid cases have a clockwise spiral when viewed from above. Larvae are never found out of their case and are extremely difficult to remove from it in one piece, even when dead.
Life history:
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Information Sources: St Clair 1997, Dean et al 2004, Neboiss 2003, Gooderham & Tsyrlin 2002
Key to Species: St Clair 1997
LUCID Key: CSIRO 2001
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