Glyphopsyche irrorata

Finding Glyphopsyche irrorata in 2018 marks the third time this species has been recorded from Minnesota. It is apparently not common anywhere. I saw adult individuals in April and again in October. It is an unusual caddisfly species in that it overwinters as an adult rather than as an egg or larva.

"Glyphopsyche irrorata (Figure 188) is known only from Grand Portage Creek, Cook County, in the Lake Superior Region, and Lake Itasca, Clearwater County, in the Northern Region. The former collection occurred in July 2000 and the latter in July 1977. The species is unique in sometimes overwintering in the adult stage (Berte and Pritchard 1983)." (Biological diversity of the Minnesota caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera. DC Houghton. Zookeys. 2012; (189): 1–389.) Given the July dates for these observations, it is probably safe to say they were of larvae and not adults which fly in April-May and September-October.

"Glyphopsyche irrorata has adapted to live in ponds with fluctuating water levels and ponds exhibiting winter drought by passing the winter as an adult in the terrestrial environment.

Larvae, which hatch in May and pupate in late August, are detritivorous shredders. Males and females emerge in September, with a sex ratio of one and commence mating in the autumn. The entire population has mated by May at which time females oviposit in the water. Adult males and females are present in equal numbers in the spring and have similar longevities approaching a maximum of 8 to 9 months." (The life history of Glyphopsyche irrorata (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae): A caddisfly that overwinters as an adult. SB Berte and G Pritchard. Ecography. 1983: (6) 69-73)