Order Trichoptera

Trichoptera are among the most successful and diverse animals in freshwater ecosystems. Their larvae play a fundamental role in food webs and as engineers of substrate stability, while their presence and abundance are indicators of ecological quality. Their general ecology and distribution in the Mediterranean Basin is discussed, and a synopsis of each of the 25 families is presented. The main morphological features are diagnosed and illustrated, and keys to the identification of all known genera in each family are provided. The order in the Mediterranean Basin contains 110 genera, and approximately 1150 species.