Cathartidae - Cathartidae

A general term for insects of the family Nemotaulidae in the order Trichoptera of the class Insecta, or a species of the family. This family is the largest group of caddisflies, distributed mainly in the cool temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, and about 40 species are known in Japan. The largest species is Nemotaulius admorsus , which has a body length of about 25 mm and an adult wingspan of more than 30 mm. It is distributed throughout Japan, with a yellowish-brown head and a brown abdomen. Its forewings are elongated and semi-transparent, with a thick transparent diagonal stripe in the center and a hollowed-out wavy outer edge. There are many small species with a body length of about 5 mm, such as the Koeguri Caddisfly and Kurotsutsu Caddisfly, which are closely related. All of these larvae live in water, living in ponds and rivers, and build cylindrical nests like bagworms using pieces of plant matter and sand grains. They feed mainly on organic matter such as fallen leaves, and play an important ecological role as decomposers in freshwater areas.

[Kazuzo Tanida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱トビケラ目エグリトビケラ科の昆虫の総称、またはその1種。この科は北半球の冷温帯を中心に分布するトビケラ目の最大のグループで、日本には約40種が知られている。最大の種は和名エグリトビケラNemotaulius admorsusで、体長約25ミリメートル、成虫の翅長(しちょう)30ミリメートル以上。日本各地に分布し、頭部は黄褐色で腹部は褐色。前翅は細長く、半透明で、中央部に太い透明な斜帯紋があり、外縁はえぐれて波状をなしている。近縁種にコエグリトビケラやクロツツトビケラなど、体長5ミリメートル内外の小形種も多い。これらの幼虫はすべて水中生活をし、池沼や河川にすみ、植物片や砂粒でミノムシのような円筒形の巣をつくる。餌(えさ)はおもに落ち葉などの有機物で、淡水域の分解者として生態的に重要な役割を果たしている。

［谷田一三］

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