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Updated 9 February 2026
TSN 115125 Good LinksOn this website:Introduction to Rhyacophila Other Websites: Photos, Map, Taxon Identifier Numbers - from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Rhyacophila verrula at GBIF Photos, Map, Museum specimens, DNA - Barcodinglife.org University of Alberta Entomology Collection Species page Has illustration of male genitalia, description, habitat information, range and more. Locations CollectedIllinois Natural History Survey (INHS) Database shows this species present in North Quartz Creek. Allan (1975) reports this species from Cement Creek.ReferencesAllan,JD 1975 The distributional ecology and diversity of benthic insects in Cement Creek, Colorado. Ecology 56:1040-1053. PDFErman,NA 1989 Species composition, emergence, and habitat preferences of Trichoptera of the Sagehen Creek Basin, California, USA. The Great Basin Naturalist, 186-197. PDF Quote from page 188: "Four other species (Desmona bethula, Rhyacophila ardala, R. vaccua, and R. verrula) were occasionally trapped in November and December." The author found Rhyacophila verrula in springs and spring-fed streams. Giersch, JJ 2002 Revision and phylogenetic anaysis of the verrula and alberta species groups of Rhyacophila Pictet 1834 with description of a new species (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae). Master of Science Thesis. Montana State University PDF Abstract: "Adult, larval, and pupal characters, and data from newly associated life stages supported the monophyly of the Rhyacophila verrula- and alberta-species groups. The verrula-group is comprised of R. haddocki Denning, R. leechi Denning, R. potteri Denning in Denning and Schmid, R. rickeri Ross, R. singularis Botosaneanu, and R. verrula Milne, with a new inclusion of R. chandleri Denning. Rhyacophila autumnalis Nimmo was found to be a junior synonym of R. potteri. The monophyly of the verrula-group is based on synapomorphies that include the expanded dorsal appendage of the phallic apparatus, closed m-cell in the forewing and morphology of the larvae. The morphology of the known larvae of this group supports the hypothesis of phytophagous feeding habits, which served as an opportunity for the evolution and speciation within the group. Rhyacophila chandleri was found to be a basal member of the verrula-group, although autapomorphies suggest an early isolation from the rest of the verrula-group. Rhyacophila rickeri is basal to the rickeri-subgroup, with R. singularis and R. potteri as sister species. Rhyacophila verrula, R. leechi, and R. haddocki form the verrula-subgroup. The wide distribution of R. verrula suggests a wider ecological tolerance than other species of the group. The alberta-group is comprised of two subgroups, R. alberta, R. tucula, and R. n. sp. comprise the alberta subgroup, and R. kincaidi and R. glaciera comprise the glaciera-subgroup. Phylogenetic reconstructions of the alberta- and verrula-groups suggest the evolution of these species groups was driven by post-Pleistocene isolation of populations in headwater streams." Herrmann,SJ; Ruiter,DE and Unzicker,JD 1986 Distribution and records of Colorado Trichoptera. Southwestern Naturalist 31 4, 421-457. They note the habitat for this species is streams and rivers, the altitudinal range is 1707 to 3048m and adult collection dates are 13 July to 19 October. Quote from page 452: "Smith (1968) reported this species from Colorado but gave no collection data. He also pointed out that, in Idaho, R. verrula was always found in association with a green algae, Prasiola sp., which it ate." They list this species as present in Gunnison county. Milne,LJ 1936 Studies in North American Trichoptera. Part 3. Cambridge, Mass. Author's publication. 128 pages Nimmo,A 1971 The adult Rhyacophilidae and Limnephilidae (Trichoptera) of Alberta and eastern British Columbia and their post glacial origin. Quaestiones Entomologicae 73: 3-234. Sometimes you can buy a used copy at Amazon.com  Peckarsky,BL 1980 Influence of detritus on colonization of stream invertebrates. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37, 957-963. Schmid,F 1970 Le genre Rhyacophila et la famille des Rhyacophilidae (Trichoptera). Memoires de la Societe Entomologique du Canada 66:1-230. Short,RA and Ward,JV 1980 Macroinvertebrates of a Colorado high mountain stream. The Southwestern Naturalist, 23-32. PDF Smith,SD 1968 The Rhyacophila of the Salmon river drainage of Idaho with special reference to larvae. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 61 (3) 655-674. Has a key to larvae that includes R. verrula. Also contains illustrations of R. verrula's head, pronotum, anal proleg and mandibles (Figure 13). Peak emergence of adults was during September and October in the Salmon River drainage of Idaho between 4000 and 8000 feet. R. verrula collected from a spring site had larvae of all ages present at the same time, probably due to the constant conditions of the spring. Smith always found larvae associated with the green algae Prasiola sp. Gut analysis showed R. verrula larvae ate algae, watercress and unidentifiable plant material. This is unique among North American Rhyacophila where most species are carnivorous, at least in the later instars. Thut,RN 1969 Feeding habits of larvae of seven Rhyacophila (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) species with notes on other life-history features. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 62(4), pp.894-898. Zuellig,RE; Heinold,BD; Kondratieff,BC and Ruiter,DE 2012 Diversity and Distribution of Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), Stoneflies (Plecoptera), and Caddisflies (Trichoptera) of the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, 1873-2010. U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 606, 257 p. PDF - caution 46MB Quote from page 100: "This common species occurred throughout the SPRB at elevations above 5,500 feet to nearly timberline. Giersch (2002) revised the R. verrula and alberta species groups. Apparently, R. verrula is the only known larva of a Rhyacophila species that feeds exclusively on plant material (Smith, 1968; Wiggins, 1996)." The elevation range is 5,550-10,500 feet and the adults emerge from August-October. |