Trichoptera Research Articles

Feeding habits and diet composition of Schizothorax plagiostomus in Panjkora River, Malakand region, Pakistan

Snow trout (Schizothorax plagiostomus) is a member of the Cyprinidae familyand commonly found in cold waters. We collected fish samples using cast nets and studied seasonal variations in the food consumption of this species. We analysed the gut content of 160 S. plagiostomus. Gut content revealed that S. plagiostomus feeds mainly on plant parts (45.14 %), followed by stones and muds (30.01 %), and insect parts (13.97 %), while unidentified detritus matter (5.42 %) and algae (5.33 %) are in small volume regarding the average percentage on a monthly basis. Maximum food consumption occurred in the summer and minimal food consumption occurred in winter. Seasonal variation in consumption of foods items showed that in summer it feeds mainly on plant parts (0.54 ± 0.86), followed by animal parts (0.19 ± 0.41), and algae (0.06 ± 0.25). In winter it feeds at a relatively minimal level (0.28 ± 0.56), (0.05 ± 0.22), (0.02 ± 0.16), respectively. Detritus (unidentified) was also observed as part of its diet, with a maximum in summer (0.06 ± 0.24), and less in autumn (0.03 ± 0.18). Lastly, materials uch as stones and mud were observed at a maximum level in winter (0.58 ± 0.76) and a minimum level in summer (0.12 ± 0.34). In conclusion, we found that the diet composition of S. plagiostomus changes with season, revealing a diverse diet that includes plants and animal fragments (caddis flies), algae, detritus, stones, and mud.

New and interesting records of rare caddisflies (Trichoptera, Insecta) from Slovakia with comments on their ecology and conservation status

The distribution and diversity of insects are crucial conservation issues. The order Trichoptera is comprised of numerous endangered species, but the rarity of some makes it challenging to determine their conservation priority. In recent decades, data based on caddisfly larvae have become more frequent in limnological research in Slovakia. Our research, focusing mainly on adult caddisflies, has led to more reliable and accurate identification of many species that cannot be identified with certainty in the larval stage.We combined several entomological methods, including sweeping, Malaise traps, and UV light attraction, to increase the likelihood of catching rare species. The text lists and discusses the discoveries of caddisfly species that are particularly important for faunistics or biodiversity in Slovakia, as well as in the Central European context. Enoicyla reichenbachii (Kolenati, 1848), Limnephilus incisus Curtis, 1834, Ptilocolepus granulatus (Pictet, 1834) and Oecetis testacea (Curtis, 1834) were recorded for the first time in Slovakia. The rare species Hagenella clathrata (Kolenati, 1848) and Adicella balcanica Botosaneanu and Novák, 1965, previously found in Slovakia, were also recorded. Additionally, a new locality of Adicella syriaca Ulmer, 1907 indicates a further northward shift of this Mediterranean species. We further discussed the faunistically important records of Beraeamyia hrabei Mayer, 1937, Allotrichia pallicornis (Eaton, 1873), Ceraclea riparia (Albarda, 1874), Grammotaulius nitidus (Müller, 1764) and Limnephilus fuscicornis Rambur, 1842 from Slovakia. The conservation status of each species is proposed and discussed on the basis of our faunistic records, in accordance with the forthcoming update of the Slovak Red Book.

Benthic invertebrate fauna of a forest spring on the Muravyov- Amursky Peninsula (Primorsky Krai, Southern Russian Far East)

The fi rst data on spring macroinvertebrate fauna of the Southern Russian Far East are presented. Macrobenthos of a small forest spring classifi ed as helocrene includes at least 21 species from 20 genera and 17 families in Arthropoda and Platyhelminthes. Main groups of benthic organisms are amphipods, planarians, larvae of dipterous insects, caddisfl ies, stonefl ies and mayfl ies, small water beetles. The following invertebrates are defi ned to the species level: planaria Phagocata sibirica, stonefl y Skwala compacta, caddisfl y Glossosoma angarensis, aquatic beetles Hydraena riparia (imago) and Heterlimnius gapyeongensis (larvae), amphipods Gammarus koreanus and hypogean Procrangonyx primoryensis. The macrobenthos of the spring is also ecologically diverse. Here, rheo- and stagnophiles, highly specialized stygo- and crenobionts, and species with wide ecological niches, sharply diff ering in their preferences, closely coexist.

The genome sequence of the Grey Sedge caddis fly, Odontocerum albicorne (Scopoli, 1769).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Odontocerum albicorne (the Grey Sedge caddis fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Odontoceridae). The genome sequence is 1,287.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.57 kilobases in length.

Automated identification of aquatic insects: A case study using deep learning and computer vision techniques

Deep learning techniques have recently found application in biodiversity research. Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera), often abbreviated as EPT, are frequently used for freshwater biomonitoring due to their large numbers and sensitivity to environmental changes. However, the morphological identification of EPT species is a challenging but fundamental task. Morphological identification of these freshwater insects is therefore not only extremely time-consuming and costly, but also often leads to misjudgments or generates datasets with low taxonomic resolution. Here, we investigated the application of deep learning to increase the efficiency and taxonomic resolution of biomonitoring programs. Our database contains 90 EPT taxa (genus or species level), with the number of images per category ranging from 21 to 300 (16,650 in total). Upon completion of training, a CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) model was created, capable of automatically classifying these taxa into their appropriate taxonomic categories with an accuracy of 98.7 %. Our model achieved a perfect classification rate of 100 % for 68 of the taxa in our dataset. We achieved noteworthy classification accuracy with morphologically closely related taxa within the training data (e.g., species of the genus Baetis, Hydropsyche, Perla). Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) visualized the morphological features responsible for the classification of the treated species in the CNN models. Within Ephemeroptera, the head was the most important feature, while the thorax and abdomen were equally important for the classification of Plecoptera taxa. For the order Trichoptera, the head and thorax were almost equally important. Our database is recognized as the most extensive aquatic insect database, notably distinguished by its wealth of included categories (taxa). Our approach can help solve long-standing challenges in biodiversity research and address pressing issues in monitoring programs by saving time in sample identification.

Species diversity of order Trichoptera (Insecta) in district Abbottabad

Caddis flies are important bio indicators of water quality. Present study was planned to explore the species diversity of insect order Trichoptera in section of River Dorr between Harno and Dhamtor of district Abbottabad, Pakistan in 2018. Four sites were selected viz. site A, B, C and D, where site A was upstream while site B, C and D was downstream and a distance of 300 meters in between all four sites. Kicking and hand picking techniques were used. Samples were collected using D-frame kick net. Samples were washed, sorted and preserved in 70% alcohol in plastic bottles. A total of 243 individuals of Trichoptera larvae were sampled belonging to five families (Hydropsychidae, Hydroptilidae, Leptoceridae, Phryganeidae, and Polycentropodidae. Hydropsychidae (37.03%), Hydroptilidae (30.86%) and Leptoceridae (29.21%) were found to be the most abundant families whereas Phryganeidae (2.46%) and Polycentropodidae (0.41%) were least encountered families. Greater species diversity of Trichoptera was observed in early-late March.

Diversity of Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Communities in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

The objective of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of the freshwater macroinvertebrate communities of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. For this region, there is only limited knowledge of its aquatic crustaceans and mollusks. A total of 13,399 freshwater macroinvertebrates were collected from four river sections in each of the three sub-basins of the region using the Surber network in four seasons of an annual cycle (2021–2022) and were preserved in 70° alcohol. Organisms belonging to seven phyla, nine (sub)classes, 21 (sub)orders and 65 families were identified. The most abundant orders were Ephemeroptera (42.03%), with greatest abundance of the family Baetidae, and the orders Trichoptera (19.11%), Diptera (15.43%), and Coleoptera (3.98%). Four families exceeded 10% relative abundance, and together they total 61.02%: Baetidae (23.84%), Hydroptilidae (13.58%), Leptohyphidae (13.03%), Chironomidae (10.57%), and Elmidae (3.23%). The order Plecoptera was recorded for the first time in Los Tuxtlas, with three families. The orders Hydrachnidae and Ostracoda, as well as six families of the order Ephemeroptera, with only one previously recorded family, and six more families of the order Diptera, were also documented. Two species of invasive aquatic mollusks were found in several rivers and basins. In this work, a high diversity of freshwater macroinvertebrates occurred compared to other sites studied in Veracruz and Mexico, and new records of these taxa are provided for the region of Los Tuxtlas.

Current state of zooplankton and zoobenthos in the lower stream of the Chulym river (Obi river basin)

A comparison was made of the numerical indicators of zooplankton and zoobenthos of the Chulym River in comparison with those obtained in 1972–1973 in order to assess the transformation of the ecosystem that has occurred over 50 years. It is shown that the zooplankton of the Chulym River has undergone dramatic changes, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The number of zooplankton increased 4–5 times due to small rotifers. At the same time, the zooplankton biomass, and therefore the feed value, decreased by more than half due to a reduction in the number of large crustaceans. The species composition of structure-forming zooplankton species has changed. The number of rotifer species in the riverbed decreased from 55 rotifers to 34. The species of Trichocerca family dropped out of the dominant composition and representatives of the river began to dominate Brachionus family. There is a significant change in the structure of zoobenthos: the number of organisms in the Chulym River bed is 5 times lower than in the 1970s. The species composition in benthic communities has remained almost unchanged over 50 years, while the proportion of some heterotopic insects (caddis flies, mayflies, stoneflies) has increased, and the proportion of oligochaetes, mollusks and chironomids in the biomass has decreased by 4–5 times. In the accessory reservoirs of Chulym, the abundance and biomass of zooplankton and zoobenthos over the past 50 years have remained more or less stable, which may indicate the presence of chronic pollution that affects the ecosystem of the main river channel and does not have time to have a negative impact on the accessory reservoirs during floods. The water quality indicators of the Chulym River and its subsidiary reservoirs, according to biotic indices, are low and correspond to a low or poor water quality class. Such conditions are unfavorable for the further development of zoobenthos and, accordingly, ichthyofauna, for which bottom invertebrates are the food supply.

Assessment of aquatic macro-invertebrates communities and water quality parameters of River Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Environmental stress caused by pollution is often assessed by diversity of macro-invertebrate species in specific aquatic habitat. To find out seasonal fluctuations in various macro-invertebrates communities and different water quality parameters of River Zhob, a research trial was conducted on River Zhob, Balochistan. Samples of macro-invertebrates and water were taken from four different stations of River Zhob. A total 18 taxa of various macro-invertebrates were identified from the area. Phylum Arthropoda constitute 94.8% of the total population followed by Mollusca (3.6%) and Annelida (1.4%). A large number of arthropods were belonged to order Diptera (1148), while the order Trichoptera was stood second with respect to macro-invertebrate´s number (441). The maximum numbers of macro-invertebrates were observed in the month of January. All physico-chemical parameters of River Zhob such as air temperature, water temp, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were within the range, suitable for the healthy growth of macro-invertebrates. Diversified populations of various macro-invertebrates confirm good ecological condition of environment and water in the studied site especially ample concentration of DO in River. The documented data on macro-invertebrates in studied site will provide a baseline for future research.

Trichoptera Life Stages Present Distinct Responses to Environmental Conditions in Amazonian Streams.

Biological communities have their biodiversity patterns affected by environmental, spatial, and biogeographic factors that vary from taxa to taxa, and often between life stages. This is especially true when there are differences in the habitat the species use in each of them. Individuals of the insect order Trichoptera are mostly aquatic in their larval stage and terrestrial in their adult stage, which may result in different behaviors and environmental requirements. Our goal was to evaluate the congruence between the larval and adult stages of Trichoptera in Amazonian streams regarding their abundance, richness, and assemblage composition. Additionally, we tried to identify the main environmental factors related to each life stage. For this, larvae and adults of Trichoptera were sampled in the same sites at 12 streams in the Caxiuanã National Forest, Parástate, Brazil. Adult assemblages had greater richness of genera and abundance of individuals than the larval ones, and there was no congruence in the genera composition between these life stages. Our results also showed that different environmental variables structured Trichoptera larvae and adults. Since the sampling of larvae and adults proved to be complementary in the studied streams, we advise that Trichoptera diversity surveys consider both life stages of these organisms.

Diversity of Leptoceroidea (Insecta: Trichoptera) in Par State, Brazil: A new species of Oecetis McLachlan 1877 and new records.

The order Trichoptera contains approximately 17,250 described species and their individuals are important freshwater environment components, frequently used as bioindicators of environmental quality. Despite recent advances in the knowledge of caddisflies in the Neotropical region, there are gaps to be filled, especially in critically endangered biomes, such as the Amazon rainforest, which has its largest area in the North Region of Brazil. In this region of Brazil, the state of Par presents a promising scenario for biodiversity studies, since a great portion of its area is covered by the Amazon rainforest and distinct environments (e.g., mangroves and rainforest). Knowledge about Trichoptera in the state includes 97 species records, 12 of them belonging to Leptoceroidea. To improve knowledge regarding the Amazon fauna, we record nine species of Leptoceroidea for the first time in Par State: Marilia alata, Nectopsyche muhni, Nectopsyche multilineata, Oecetis bidigitata, Oecetis cassicoleata, Oecetis doesburgi, Oecetis iguazu, Phylloicus auratus, and Triplectides maranhensis; we also describe and illustrate one new species: Oecetis ancorospina n. sp. which belongs to the Oecetis testacea Species Group.

The genome sequence of the Grey Sedge caddis fly, Odontocerum albicorne (Scopoli, 1769)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Odontocerum albicorne (the Grey Sedge caddis fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Trichoptera; Odontoceridae). The genome sequence is 1,287.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.57 kilobases in length.

MATERIALS ON THE FAUNA OF EPHEMEROPTERA, PLECOPTERA AND TRICHOPTERA OF THE KRONOTSKY NATURE RESERVE AND OTHER REGIONS OF KAMCHATKA

As a result of collection in 2014–2021, additional information was obtained on the fauna and distribution of three orders of amphibiotic insects Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera of the Kronotsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve and other regions of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The general list of the three orders the studied territory includes 56 species: 8 species of mayfl ies, 17 – stonefl ies, and 31 – caddisfl ies. For the territory of Kronotsky Nature Reserve are noted 50 species: 8 – mayfl ies, 11 – stonefl ies, and 31 – caddisfl ies; the presence of 48 previously known species is confi rmed. Stonefl y Capnia nigra (Pictet, 1833) and caddisfl y Hydropsyche kozhantschikovi are fi rst fi nds for the reserve. Plecopterans Plumiperla diversa (Frison, 1935) is discovered for Geyser Valley streams for the fi rst time, and Isocapnia orientalis Zhiltzova, 1975 is a new fi nding for the Kamchatka Peninsula.

BIODIVERSITY OF CADDISFLES (INSECTA, TRICHOPTERA) THE JEWISH AUTONOMOUS REGION

A review of the study of Trichoptera in the Jewish Autonomous Region (JAO) from 1962 to the present is given. It is noted that a signifi cant increase in the list of species occurred in the early 2000s as a result of expeditions of the Federal Scientifi c Center for Biodiversity of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the JAO, and during entomological studies in the Bastak State Nature Reserve. From 2018 to the present, as part of the annual comprehensive studies of the freshwater biota of the Middle Amur River basin, knowledge of the fauna of the caddis fl ies of the JAO has signifi cantly expanded. By now the list of caddis fl ies in the region has amounted 225 species from 59 genera and 21 families. The paper provides a systematic list of species and a brief analysis of the structure of the trichopterofauna of the JAO. Fourteen species of caddisfl ies are indicated for the fi rst time for the JAO region, three of them are probably new to science; one species, Anabolia appendix, was fi rst discovered on the territory of the continental part of Russia (previously it was known from Sakhalin Island and from China).

ESTIMATION OF WATER QUALITY ACCORDING TO THE EPT INDEX IN THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA RIVERS IN AUTUMN, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT REGIONAL FEATURES OF THE FAUNA

The paper presents the results of the water quality assessing in the surveyed areas of the foothill Kamchatka Peninsula Rivers in the autumn of 2023. The EPT index of indicator groups of mayfl ies (Ephemeroptera), stonefl ies (Plecoptera), and caddisfl ies (Trichoptera) in the streams of the Bolshaya, Kamchatka, and Avacha River Basins varied within 8–16, which corresponds to the standard of good-fair or fair water quality. However, given that the fauna of these indicator orders of aquatic insects in the Kamchatka Rivers is slightly more than 20 % of that in the south of the Far East; these regional features are also refl ected in the indices when assessing water quality, in particular, in the number of EPT species. And if the water quality is considered good if there are 24–31 species in the rivers of the south of the Far East, then for the watercourses of Kamchatka such water quality, which we assessed with an index of 10 to 16, is quite justifi ed. It is also necessary to take into account seasonal changes in the fauna, since the samples were taken in September, when most of the indicator taxa left the streams, and a number of species of the new generation had not yet hatched. Our results can be confi rmed by studies conducted earlier in the areas of existing economic facilities on the Kamchatka Peninsula, which showed that the EPT index in the background river sections varied from 10 (Agi R.) to 13 (Tolmacheva R.), which is comparable with our results.

Longitudinal recovery gradient of macroinvertebrates during different hydrological scenarios in a downstream river reach

Macroinvertebrate community composition in regulated rivers is highly dependent on high and low flow events. Significant reduction or augmentation of the flow downstream from a dam can lead to a decrease in the variety of the sensitive macrozoobenthic taxa. Such decreases may lead to a degraded ecological status. In this research, the macrozoobenthic community was investigated in a river section downstream of a multipurpose dam with strategic significance for northeast Bulgaria. Samples were collected for five years from the Golyama Kamchia River, in close proximity to the Ticha dam. Three sampling sites were established in a longitudinal gradient, from 75 to 1770 meters from the dam. Sixteen invertebrate samples were taken between 2017 and 2021. Double sampling (spring and autumn) was conducted in 2019. The goal was to find how macroinvertebrate communities are influenced by the dam-induced modified environmental conditions, from the management of the dam, and which of the parameters is considered to have the strongest effect. Likewise for the study was important to understand longitudinal recovery gradients from the application of the present “minimum acceptable flow – compensation flow” in hydrologically differing years. The main physicochemical parameters were measured alongside the velocity of the water at each sampling site. Additionally, the maintained hydrological regime was explored for a relationship by several hydrological indices with the macroinvertebrate community composition. The analysis of the biological data through 7 biological indices showed that hydrologically sensitive taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera - EPT) were very good indicators for damming impact, detecting disturbances not so well differentiated by other type-specific indices and the resulting ecological status. The order Trichoptera was the most influenced taxa group during the study. In 2020 the base flow released from the dam dropped to its lowest level (0.095 m3 s-1 from 0.552 m3 s-1) for an explored 10-year period of hydrology. This event continued for more than a year and led to a rupture of the previously observed recovery gradient. Downstream of the second sampling site, at about 800 m below the dam wall, a decrease in the number of trichopteran families was observed and at the third site, at 1.8 km from the dam they were significantly reduced.

Biological Investigation of the Endangered Northern Madtom in the North Channel St. Clair River

AbstractAquatic organisms and the habitats they live in are declining globally, yet managers often lack even basic biological information for individual imperiled species. This makes assessment of the current status, management needs, and recovery targets for these species challenging. One such organism is the Northern Madtom Noturus stigmosus, a small, bottom‐dwelling catfish of the family Ictaluridae. Northern Madtom are listed as endangered in the state of Michigan and the province of Ontario, with only a handful of isolated populations known in each region. To address life history uncertainties and to provide fisheries managers with baseline information to inform decision making, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources annually sampled Northern Madtom in the St. Clair River using minnow traps and amassed the largest known data set for this species. We handled 871 individuals from 2010 to 2022, with yearly catch rates ranging from 0.17 to 1.33 individuals/trap. Age estimates derived from otoliths and dorsal spines of 17 individuals showed no clear pattern of bias, indicating that nonlethally collected dorsal spines provide a suitable age estimation method. We developed an age–length key to assign ages to all individuals in our data set, calculated growth parameters, and determined that annual mortality rates across all ages ranged from 46% to 69%. Diet analysis revealed that caddisfly (order Trichoptera) larvae were the dominant prey item and fecundity averaged 178 eggs/female. We compared microsatellite allele frequencies and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes among samples collected in the St. Clair River and the Detroit River. Significant evidence of genetic structure was present, indicating limited gene flow and suggesting that separate management of these two populations may be warranted. Collectively, these data provide context for managers interested in the development of biological reference points and planning for the conservation and management of this species.

Water quality assessment in an irrigation pond based on adult caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) assemblages

Caddisfly fauna are abundant benthic organisms in freshwater ecosystems and are considered effective bioindicators of water quality. A study of caddisfly biodiversity and its application for use as an indicator species to assess water quality in aquatic environments was conducted in an irrigation pond at the Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. The specimens were sampled monthly from January to December 2020 by portable light traps. A total of 2,771 adult male caddisflies, representing 7 families, 14 genera, and 30 species, were determined over a period of one year. The four most common species (Setodes gangaya, Cheumatopsyche lucida, Paduniella sampati, and Ecnomus puro) made up approximately 75.49% of the total male abundance. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that nitrate-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, sulfate, pH, and dissolved oxygen were the most influential environmental parameters on Trichoptera assemblages. Caddisfly species Ecnomus puro, E. mammus, and E. utto were positively related to sulfate, whereas Leptocerus lampunensis, Setodes melanippos, and Cheumutopsyche schwendingeri were negatively related. Species of Paduniella sampati, Pseudoneureclipsis tramot, Setodes gangaya, and Leptocerus dirghachuka were positively related to nitrate-nitrogen. The results of this study revealed that the order Trichoptera, identified by species, can be potentially used to assess environmental water quality status in freshwater ecosystems.

Снижение обилия и видового разнообразия макрозообентоса таежных ручьев при дорожных работах

The article focuses on studying the species composition and abundance of macrozoobenthos in the overhaul area of a large road facility that includes assembling the new culverts, northern taiga streams being taken as examples. There were surveyed six small forest watercourses taking water from swamps that belong to the Chirka-Kem river basin. Four quantitative samples of macrozoobenthos (area = 0.02 m2) were taken in each watercourse, one sample was taken upstream and appointed as a background, and the other three at the construction site. Invertebrates of 50 taxa were identified in the benthos, of which 27 taxa were identified to the species level. Diptera (23 taxa) are the most widely represented. Comparison of watercourse sections in the construction area with the background ones showed that the leading factor in the disturbance of natural ecosystems is entering of a large number of substrates that are not typical for them (fine sand and clay) into the channels. The sections of the channel covered by fine sand and clay are characterized by reduced species diversity (species abundance decreased on average from 7.8 to 4.2, the Shannon index decreased from 1.72 to 1.06, the Simpson index from 0.77 to 0.57, the dominance index increased from 0.23 to 0.43). The abundance of macrozoobenthos in the construction zone also decreased – from 1 700 to 350 ind./m2, biomass from 6.1 to 1.0 g/m2. Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddis flies (Trichoptera) are the most sensitive to biotope destruction; their species richness, abundance, and share in macrozoobenthos decreased most significantly in the work area. Among the surveyed pickets in the construction zone with stable indicators of benthos is a picket where the old culvert was left: due to the absence of active land works the destruction of bottom communities turned out to be relatively small.

Structure and distribution of sensilla on the mouthpart palps in the caddisfl ies of the family Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera)

A comparative morphological study of the structure and distribution of sensilla on the maxillary and labial palps in representatives of the family Hydropsychidae was performed. Morphology of palpal sensilla was studied in 17 species from 12 genera by scanning electron microscopy. Four types of sensilla were found on the palps of the studied species: long trichoid sensilla, chaetoid sensilla, campaniform sensilla, and petaloid sensilla; basiconic and pseudoplacoid sensilla were not found on palps. All studied species lack apical sensory complexes at the tips of both pairs of palps, where only long chaetoid sensilla are present. Petaloid sensilla form sensory elds on the 4th (in Arctopsychinae) or on the 3rd and 4th segments (in Diplectroninae, Hydropsychinae, Macronematinae) of the maxillary palps. These sensilla are never present on the labial palps. Sensory elds include from 5-10 sensilla in Hydropsychinae to 40 in Arctopsychinae.