Philopotamidae is a family of insects in the order Trichoptera, the caddisflies. They are known commonly as the finger-net caddisflies.Philopotamidae. Chironomidae Research Group, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota.Philopotamidae. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
The aquatic larvae of these caddisflies spin mesh nets of silk in flowing water to catch food. A larva can spin over a kilometer of extremely thin silk to create its intricate net.Wallace, J. B. and D. Malas. (1976). The fine structure of capture nets of larval Philopotamidae (Trichoptera), with special emphasis on Dolophilodes distinctus. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 54(10) 1788-1802.
Subfamilies and genera include:
Subfamily Chimarrinae Chimarra Chimarrhodella Subfamily Paulianodinae Paulianodes Subfamily Philopotaminae Cabreraia Cryptobiosella Doloclanes Dolomyia Dolophilodes Dolopsyche Edidiehlia Gunungiella Hydrobiosella Kisaura Neobiosella Philopotamus Wormaldia Xenobiosella
See also Dolophilodes distinctus
References