Sequatchie Caddisfly (Glyphopsyche Sequatchie)
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service November 2014 Sequatchie caddisfly (Glyphopsyche sequatchie) Description Caddisflies are eaten by fish and are often to the three places where the caddisfly Like all caddisflies, the Sequatchie either used directly as bait, or serve as was known, covering portions of both caddisfly is an insect that spends most models for a number of fishing lures, most Tennessee and Alabama. No new of its life in freshwater, emerging into a importantly trout flies. More importantly, populations were uncovered. flying insect once it reaches adulthood. caddisflies are one of the groups of It’s only one to two centimeters long as aquatic insects (the others being mayflies While biologists fear it may have an adult, slightly shorter as a stream- and stoneflies) that biologists often look disappeared from Clear Spring, a 2014 bound juvenile. As a young caddisfly, it for as an indicator of a clean, healthy search found 260 in Martin Spring, more uses sticky silk to glue twigs, sand, and stream. than has ever been found there. That stones into a cylindrical case in which same 2014 search effort found 269 in it lives, carrying the case with it as it Habitat Owen Spring. Biologists involved in a moves, similar to a snail. The Sequatchie caddisfly is only found 2013 search estimated that and Owen in small streams that flow from springs Spring has 1,500 – 3,000 individuals. The adult Sequatchie caddisfly is a emerging from caves. It prefers clean, brownish-yellow winged-insect with large cold water with stream bottom made up Threats wings dominating its body. of cobble, gravel, and sand with very little This caddisfly faces threats common to no silt or very fine sediment. They also to a lot of stream animals, especially show a preference for areas where the water pollution, but these threats are stream is well shaded by trees, and has exacerbated by the animal’s extremely downed wood in the water. limited distribution. Distribution n Siltation – dirt in water is a common The Sequatchie caddisfly is known from water quality issue. This can come three places in the world, all in Marion from stream bank erosion, erosion County, in southeast Tennessee: of upland sites, or erosion within the stream channel itself, for example n Owen Spring Branch, about 25 miles when off-road vehicle traverse streams. west of Chattanooga. This is the n The Sequatchie caddisfly, credit Kevin site where the caddisfly was first Lack of woody debris in streams Moulton/University of Tennessee discovered in March, 1994. This site Fallen tree trunks or roots of trees is also home to the endangered royal near stream edges, branches, and twigs snail (Pyrgulopsis ogmorhaphe); in streams provide important shelter Life history for stream animals and are a source of In North America, caddisflies typically n Martin Spring, a tributary to Battle food for decomposers. live a year, most of which is spent in a Creek. This population was discovered stream or lake. They grow through five in 1998. n Crushing by stream users successively larger larval stages, then Though getting walked on is not form a cocoon and enter a pupal stage, n In 2010 a single individual was found at generally considered a significant undergoing the transition to adult, much nearby Clear Spring, but the caddisfly threat to other aquatic species, it may like a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. has not been seen there since. be for the Sequatchie caddisfly, given Once fully developed, the pupa crawls the limited area where it’s found. out of the water, leaves it pupal skin, and In 2013 biologists undertook a search emerges as a flying adult. The adults lay for new populations at 40 sites similar n Flooding by beavers their eggs in plants hanging over the The Sequatchie caddisfly prefers cold, water, and when it rains, the eggs drop clear, swiftly moving streams. A beaver into the water. dam would dramatically alter the stream habitat and make it unusable While in the stream, the Sequatchie by the caddisfly. caddisfly eats mainly plants, getting nutrients from the aquatic fungi and n Inputs of warm water or pollutants bacteria on the decaying plant material, The introduction of chemicals or and helping break down plant debris even unusually warm water can that falls into the stream. Adults have alter a stream in a way that could mouthparts adapted to a liquid diet, such kill Sequatchie caddisflies or make as flower nectar. The Sequatchie caddisfly larvae, credit David potential habitat unusable. Withers TDEC U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service n Predation by non-native species Predation is completely natural, however the introduction of non- native predators can shift the balance between predator and prey which can be problematic if the prey is extremely rare. History of efforts to place on the endangered species list n Due to its rarity and extremely limited distribution, in 1999 the Service placed the caddisfly on its candidate list. This meant the caddisfly should probably be on the federal endangered species list, but there were higher priority species that had to be addressed first. n In 2004, the Fish and Wildlife Service was asked by the Center for Biological Diversity to place it on the endangered species list. Due to numerous requests to place plants and animals on the list, the caddisfly wasn’t addressed until 2015. n The Service has included the Sequatchie caddisfly as part of its 2015 n Let naturally-fallen woody material workload, and by the end of the year References remain in streams will either determine that the animals Etnier, D.A., and R. L. Hix. 1999. A new Glyphopsyche Banks (Trichoptera: does not need to be on the endangered n Keep streams free of trash species list, or begin the process for Limnephilidae) from southeastern placing it on the list. n Look for ways to move rainwater off Tennessee. Proceedings of the paved surfaces and allow it to soak Entomological Society of Washington What does it means for an animal to be on into the ground. When channeled 101:624-630. the endangered species list? off paved surfaces and into streams, Moulton, J.K., and M.A. Floyd. 2013. When an animal is placed on the federal rainwater carries pollution (like oil) endangered species list, it makes it illegal Status survey for the Sequatchie caddisfly picked up while flowing over pavement Glyphopsyche Sequatchie Etnier and Hix to kill, shoot, trap, harass, harm, pursue, and erodes stream banks and bottom wound, capture or collect it without (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) in Alabama not shaped to handle the excess water. and Tennessee. Report submitted to a permit from the Fish and Wildlife Helpful techniques include using Service. Typically permits are only given the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pervious pavement, rainbarrels, and Cookeville, Tennessee. University of to individuals for actions that ultimately installing rain gardens – gardens benefit the species. Tennessee Department of Entomology where rainwater is channeled and and Plan Pathology, Knoxville, Tennessee. allowed to soak into the ground. Additionally, projects that are federally- 36 pp. funded or authorized are reviewed for Because of the Sequatchie caddisfly’s Ross, H.H. 1944. The caddis flies, or impacts to the animals, as these projects extremely limited range, there are typically can’t jeopardize the existence of Trichopters, of Illinois. Illinois Natural additional steps that can be taken to help History Survey Bulletin 23, 326 pp. a species. Efforts are made to minimize, it: or hopefully eliminate, impacts. Wiggins, G.B. 1996. Larvae of the North n Limit scientific or recreational American Caddisfly Genera (Trichoptera), What can be done activities at known locations to nd There are straightforward steps that can 2 edition. University of Toronto Press, minimize habitat disturbance, and Buffalo, New York. 457 pp. be taken to improve the outlook for the impacts from collection or crushing. Sequatchie caddisfly, and in fact can help Wiggins, G.B. 2004. Caddisflies: the make any stream healthier: n Control beavers to ensure habitat does underwater architects. University of not become flooded Toronto Press, Buffalo, New York.292 pp. n Plant native trees and shrubs along stream and allow these areas to grow n Limit the use of chemicals near known naturally. The root systems help hold locations stream bank soil in place and a lush diversity of plants serves as a filter, catching polluted runoff before it can enter the stream..