Hydropsychidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) as Bio-indicators of Water Quality

Abstract

Assessment on rivers and streams water quality should incorporate aspects of chemical, physical, and biological. Of all the potential groups of freshwater organisms that have been considered for use in biological monitoring in rivers and streams, benthic macroinvertebrates are most often recommended, especially caddisflies or Trichoptera, comprise the most diverse order of insects whose members are exclusively aquatic. Caddisfly larvae contribute significantly to zoobenthic biomass and the processing of organic resources. Larvae, which are particularly responsive to in-stream environmental gradients, are restricted to the permanently wetted stream perimeter. Adults are terrestrial insects that fly mostly at dusk not far from the water. In regions like Europe and North America, where their taxonomy and biology are well known in both the adult and larval stages, hydropsychids are used as the most accurate and cost effective indicators of water quality because the immature stages are the ones that are exposed to pollution.