I went back to the pond looking for the Caddisfly larva I saw yesterday. To my delight I did see one, just not the same one.
Without their own individually created case, it would be impossible for me to tell them apart. I have a hard enough time with our hens Kitty and Anne.
But the Caddisfly I saw today was wearing a fur coat compared to yesterday’s who had more of a leather jacket.
I saw the little puff of green stuff rolling around under the water. So I kept watching knowing what to expect. And I wasn’t disappointed. Soon the caterpillar-like insect emerged from its home-made protective case pulling itself along a piece of grass and munching on what it could find.
It’s case looked a bit more cumbersome to drag around, but I can’t help thinking that the choice each Caddisfly makes speaks to their individuality. Maybe even personality? I can’t help but wonder how they choose to look like a stick, a rock or a ball of algae.
Marianna left a comment on my blog saying she worked for Soil and Water Conservation and evaluated water samples from streams in her district. This time of year they would turn over rocks and see what was underneath them. “Depending on who they find, determines the health of the stream. Caddisfly are one of the indicators of a healthy stream and good water quality. We love to find them, they are so cool!”
I was glad to see a salamander in the pond too. After so many of them died this past winter I was concerned it might take some time for them to repopulate the pond. Now I’m just waiting to see the frogs again.
