Introduced Insects

Scientific name: Hydroptila potosina
Common name(s): Micro Caddisfly

(larva shown above)

Status: Introduced

Habitat: Moderate to swift flowing sections of stream, common in cobble to boulder sized substrate

Preferred Area of Stream: Riffles and Runs, differs in that the microcaddisfly is found on the tops of rocks in swiftly flowing water while the little sister sedge caddisfly mainly is found underneath and between rocks.

Range in Hawai‘i: Common on all Hawaiian Islands

Diet: Herbivorous and appears to eat mainly algae and diatoms.

Predators: Birds, native and introduced fish, predatory insects such as dragonflies, introduced crustaceans

Fact: The micro caddisfly lives in a protective case in which the larvae spend their entire immature portion of their life is silken with many very small, fine sand grains embedded in its surface, and is smooth and regular. This species is common in Waipio Valley streams, but you have to look closely for it because of its small size.