How to Get Rid of Caddisfly

Caddisflies are important insects in the health of aquatic ecosystems. Specifically, the Caddisfly larvae serve as a biological indicator of good water quality in the bodies of water. But the adult of a particular species can get attracted to light sources near waterways and thrive in a slightly degraded or polluted environment. 

Such adult Caddisflies can become pests, getting into your food, ears, noses, and mouth. In Laughlin, Nevada, the mass emergence of Caddisflies over the Colorado river was reported to be a significant problem. This type of aquatic insect hurt the quality of life in the riverside communities and their businesses and tourism sector. 

Therefore, it’s vital to equip yourself with Caddisfly pest management or caddisfly extermination before they become a real threat to your home. Learn how to identify Caddisflies and prevent them from invading your property by reading this general Caddisfly control guide. 

What Are Caddisflies? 

Although there are approximately 7,000 species of caddisflies found worldwide, many people have never heard of them. These aquatic insects are closely related to moths. But if you scrutinize them, there’s a big difference between their physical appearance and other features. 

Read on to know what these insects look like exactly, where the population of Caddisflies live, and how they develop and get their food. 

Appearance

Generally brownish in color, the adult Caddis flies have hairy wings and antennae that make them appear like moths. Unlike moths, the hair on their wings is fine instead of scaly, and their antennae are also long and skinny. Plus, they don’t have the long siphoning mouthparts that moths have. 

Habitat

As an aquatic insect, Caddisfly spends most of their lives living under the bodies of water as larvae. You can find them, particularly in ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers with fast currents and warm temperatures. 

While the case-building Caddis larvae prefer to live underwater, nearly all adult Caddis flies are terrestrial. They tend to fly in swarms over the water and stay in moist habitats like vegetation during the daytime. Note that Caddis flies are also used to living in highly stagnant waters with less oxygen, making them susceptible to pollution. 

Food

The Caddisfly larvae exhibit various feeding strategies, depending on the particular species and food supply. When food is scarce, they will eat dead and living organic matter. But they can be selective feeders, eating only nutritious food items, such as algae, leaves, and other plant parts that fall into the water. 

Meanwhile, Caddisfly adults cannot feed on solids because of their underdeveloped mouthparts. Thus, they can only eat plant fluids like nectar flowers. Some of them may not feed at all. 

Life Cycle

Like most insects, Caddisflies undergo a complete life cycle, evolving from egg to larva to pupa then to Caddisfly adults. Most Caddisfly larvae live underwater for about one year before pupating. They usually use dead twigs, leaves, and soil to make protective cases for their pupal stage, which can last about two to three weeks. 

After completing that stage, the winged-adult Caddisflies emerge. As adults, Caddisflies typically live for a few weeks, just long enough to mate and lay eggs. That’s why they don’t eat and focus only on reproduction. Caddisfly adults often stay close to the water and lay up to 800 eggs on or in the water. 

Inspecting Your Home For Signs of Caddisflies

Mass emergences of Caddisflies are temporary and should last only a few days. But they can be annoying in large numbers and pose a problem in your home. If you live in Arizona, these month-like insects have two emergence peaks, typically in April and September. It can take longer than that, depending on the temperature. 

Inspecting your home is vital for complete control over these nuisance insects. Below are some essential points to bear in mind before doing the inspection. 

Where to Search?

The first step you can do is to identify the areas Caddisflies might be attracted to after they hatch eggs. While they don’t breed inside homes, they can get trapped through your open windows, doors, and other entry points. Once Caddisflies are inside, it can be hard to remove them. 

It might help to start your inspection outdoors. Check your front doors, patios, driveways, porches, and pool if you have one. This can help you prevent the swarm of Caddisflies from getting inside your home. 

What to Look For? 

The presence of Caddisfly adults is the most noticeable sign to look for when you’re conducting the inspection. Note that Caddisflies only breed in aquatic environments. While a few of them don’t pose any threat, large numbers of Caddisflies can become an issue. 

Adult Caddisflies only become pests when attracted to the outdoor lights and make their way by accident into your home. When inspecting your home for signs of Caddisflies, make sure to look for excessive moisture and light sources. Most Caddisfly adults are most active and buzz around light sources in the early evening.

How to Get Rid of Caddisflies           

Once you detect any signs of Caddisfly infestation in your property, you probably wonder what to do about it. Being patient is among the best ways to get rid of Caddisflies. Since Caddisfly adults are short-lived, they’ll soon die a few days after becoming adults. The great numbers of Caddisflies, however, can be bothersome, and you might want to eliminate them sooner. 

Here are two methods that can help you control and remove the emergence of Caddisflies in your home: 

Natural Approaches

You can consider a non-chemical approach to get rid of a swarm of Caddisfly adults. Because these insects are easily attracted to lights on buildings, treating Caddisflies naturally involves managing light sources. 

You can follow these best practices for effective Caddisfly management:    

• Monitor: Shut off your exterior lights and close the windows when you see Caddisfly adults flying outside your house. 
• Relocate: If possible, place your outdoor light fixtures away from the house structure. 
• Replace: Instead of the standard white-hot light bulbs, replace them with low UV lights or yellow bubble error lamps to attract fewer insects. 

Chemical Insecticide Sprays

You can also use chemical pesticide sprays to treat adult Caddisflies. But before applying anything, ensure to read all product labels first and wear the proper personal protective equipment. Remember to use a chemical to a minimum and follow the application instructions. Having a good hose-end sprayer can help you achieve this. 

Here are two of the treatments you can apply outside your house: 

• Malathion Insect Spray: This product is designed for outdoor home garden use on select fruits and vegetables. Although some users claim that it gives them the best result in controlling Caddisflies, it’s worth noting that this product is not specifically labeled for Caddisflies. Thus, it’s best to contact your local extension office before using this treatment. 
• Supreme It Insecticide: A barrier application of Supreme It Insecticide can help eliminate Caddisflies and keep them away from your home. You can spray this product around your property, including your door and window frames and electrical or plumbing pipes. It can kill pests and prevent future infestations for 90 days. 

Preventing Caddisfly From Entering Your Home

Caddisfly management can be challenging due to their unique habitat and life cycle. This is even more true once they’re already inside your house. Taking preventive measures is still the best thing you can do, such as the following: 

• As much as possible, don’t place a night light near the ponds or water systems around your home. Remember that lights will attract and increase the population of Caddisflies. 
• Since Caddisfly adults usually seek shade, try to reduce the amount of vegetation in your yard. It’s also a good idea to screen your patio. 
• If you have a pool on your property, ensure to cover it during the Caddisfly season. Also, clean any excess moisture in the poolside, driveway, and patio. 
• Remove bodies of water near your home’s structure to prevent Caddisflies from coming in contact with your property.