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Family Phryganeidae

This family contains the largest of the caddis flies. McLachlan calls them "the giants of the order." They are found only in the northern portions of the globe and some of the most striking species are boreal, or at least inhabit high mountains. They are not very numerous. One of the largest and handsomest, Neuronia semifasciata Say, is shown on the accompanying plate, and has been taken by the writer at night at a light in his cottage in the Catskill Mountains (elevation 2,500 feet). The larvae live in ponds, swamps, and bogs, and make cylindrical cases of bits of leaves or the fibers of slender-leafed aquatic plants which they arrange in a spiral manner. The cases of the full-grown larvae are nearly of the same diameter at each end but with the young larvae it is smaller at the tail-end and that end is cut off by the caddis worm in order to add the remainder to the front end. The cases are open at both ends and the larvae are probably able to reverse their positions within them. The perfect insects conceal themselves during the day and fly at night. Their flight is lumbering, and they are readily recognized while on the wing. Only two genera are represented in the United States, namely Phryganea and Neuronia, most of our species belonging to the latter genus.