Trichoptera, the caddisflies, are described as having long threadlike antennae and hind wings shorter than forewings. Which order do they belong to?

Trichoptera, the caddisflies, are described as having long threadlike antennae and hind wings shorter than forewings. Which order do they belong to?

• A. Lepidoptera
• B. Odonata
• C. Trichoptera
• D. Diptera

Answer: (C)

The features described—long threadlike antennae and forewings longer than hind wings—point to a group whose wings are hairy and held rooflike over the body when at rest. That combination is characteristic of Trichoptera, the caddisflies. In these insects, the antennae are notably long, and the forewings are generally longer than the hind wings, with wings that are covered in hair rather than scales. This contrasts with Lepidoptera, which have scaled wings; Odonata, which have short antennae and two large wing pairs of similar size; and Diptera, which have only one pair of wings (the second pair transformed into halteres). Therefore, they belong to Trichoptera.

The features described—long threadlike antennae and forewings longer than hind wings—point to a group whose wings are hairy and held rooflike over the body when at rest. That combination is characteristic of Trichoptera, the caddisflies. In these insects, the antennae are notably long, and the forewings are generally longer than the hind wings, with wings that are covered in hair rather than scales. This contrasts with Lepidoptera, which have scaled wings; Odonata, which have short antennae and two large wing pairs of similar size; and Diptera, which have only one pair of wings (the second pair transformed into halteres). Therefore, they belong to Trichoptera.