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Stream and caddisfly nets Anonymous
In this one you can see the nets, they almost look like honeycomb on the edge of the outfall
>> Anonymous
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You can really see the structure of the net in this one. Caddisfly silk is almost exactly the same as caterpillar silk, but underwater so cooler.
>> Anonymous
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Some more nets on the edge of the outfall. Each of the larger nets is maybe 1 cm across.
>> Anonymous
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You can see how they displace the very shallow stream of water. The nets are for collecting debris in the current, whether that is just leaves and other plant materials or drifting invertebrates. Its a capture net for feeding.
>> Anonymous
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Here is a lower level of the outfall from a side view.
>> Anonymous
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The silk is very clear in this picture. Caddisfly larvae have long silk glands, and the silk is secreted on their lower lip. These caddisflies build nets but other types build portable cases.
>> Anonymous
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This is a caddisfly larvae. Its probably not the one that makes the nets in the pictures. This type makes a net more like a fishermans seine, it doesn't tend to bow out like a finger like the ones in the pictures.
>> Anonymous
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You could see the gills in the last picture, and can better see that it is very catepilliar like in this picture. Caddisflies are very closely related to butterflies and moths.

The species is Hydropsyche betteni, btw.
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See the 'tail'? The end of the abdomen is modified with these spiny friction pads and a set of recurved claws. They are used for gripping and clinging in current.

I think it was trying to bite me. :3
>> Anonymous
I could post more but only if people want.
>> Anonymous
What the hell, I'm down for seeing more caddisfly stuff.
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Whole bunch of nets in this picture.
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Some of these end up really abstract looking. You can still see the arch shaped openings of the nets in this.
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I was lovin the nets in this stream. Went to collect the buggers for a project and brought my camera along.

Stream is in upstate SC, btw.
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The red leaf in this picture is a nice contract with the substrate. Caddisfly silk is translucent, but all the nets you see are coated with algae and debris, making them brownish yellow.
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Another view from below the outfall. It was only a couple weeks ago when these pictures were taken, so all the leaves were off the trees that close to the mountains.
>> Anonymous
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And this one last picture of H. betteni.

The rest are more or less repeats of the ones posted.
>> Anonymous
this is a nice contribution!