[Bert Kitchen] And So They Build 011 - Caddisfly larva 
 From: giraffe@longneck.inc (giraffe~⇔)
 Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.artpics
 Subject: Re: Critters  - KitchenBert_AndSoTheyBuild11-iej.jpg
 Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2000 03:16:38 GMT
 
 >*
 >*From a educational book for children
 >*And So They Build 
 >*Written & illustrated by Bert Kitchen
 >*
 >*ISBN 1-56402-502-0
 
 
 KitchenBert_AndSoTheyBuild11-iej
 
 A caddis-fly larva is soft and vulnerable
 and so it builds.....
 
 The adult caddis fly lives around streams and rivers
 throughout the world.  The female lays her eggs in
 water.  As soon as a larva hatches from its egg it
 begins to secrete a sticky silk thread from a gland
 near its mouth and winds it around its body.  Then
 it presses itself onto nearby objects such as small
 shells, stones, and grains of sand, which stick to 
 the silk to form a hard, protective, well-camouflaged
 case, which is much smaller than a person's little
 finger.  The case is open at both ends, allowing water
 to flow through so that the larva can breathe.
 
 The larva lives inside the case for about a year, 
 adding to it as it grows.  When it is ready to emerge,
 it bites its way out with its strong jaws, floats to 
 the water's surface, and takes to the air as a caddis
 fly.   |