This webinar will cover the aquatic larvae (and pupae) of caddis. Large numbers of larval species records are made each year by professional biologists as part of water quality monitoring. However, very few records are made by amateurs.

There is quite a lot going against caddis larvae, charismatic as they are, as far as being tackled by naturalist recorders:-

• Easy to see features usually only get you to a group or genus

• Larvae usually need to be killed to get to species.

• A reference voucher collection has to be in fluid in small tubes.

• A microscope is usually required

• A feeling that the professionals are doing it all anyway

The increase in ownership of microscopes and the ability to capture images they produce by using for example mobile phones suggests a renaissance in larval recording by naturalists could be encouraged.

This webinar will introduce some of the techniques to improve success at finding caddis larvae and provide an introduction to the families that may supplement the “FSC Simple Key” and the larger Freshwater Biological Association Keys and get people past the dreaded “Introductory Key to Families” that often discourages people from starting any group.

This session will be followed by an Adult Caddis webinar in the Autumn (date tbc) to coincide with the publication of The new Guide to Adult Caddis that Ian is writing with Sharon and Peter Flint.

Tutor Info: Ian identified his first caddis larva in 1971 and has been unable to shake off a fascination for these insects. He is the senior author of the Freshwater Biological Association Key to Cased Caddis Larva and in 2006 wrote a “Simple Key to Caddis Larvae”, published by the Field Studies Council. He has supported caddis recording for 40 years and is pleased that his efforts have helped change caddis from being a group with few records to one with an NBN holding 700,000 records.

Please book your space via Eventbrite and you will be sent information on how to join the webinar.

This session will run on Zoom. If you are new to Zoom you will need to create a Zoom account and download their software. This is all free and you can do so here.

You can use a laptop/desktop computer, smartphone or tablet and it isn’t necessary to have a webcam or microphone to participate.

Further info on how to join a zoom meeting can be found here.

Image – S. Rae (CC BY 2.0)