Brachycentrus lateralis is a Wisconsin Special Concern humpless casemaker caddisfly is found in river riffles. Caddisflies are in the order Trichoptera and are the architects of the aquatic insect world. Larvae construct intricate nets or complex cases out of sticks, leaves, sand, and gravel that are held together by 'silk' and are unique to the species. In most cases, the larvae live approximately one year, then pupate and emerge as moth-like adults and only live for one to two weeks, although some species can last up to two months. They are good indicators of water quality and an important food source for fish. Members of the Brachycentridae family occur in a wide range of lotic habitats. They are usually found either on aquatic moss or hard substrates and construct four-sided cases from strips of material.
