What Eats Caddisflies?
Caddisfly eggs are laid in water and sink to the bottom of rivers and streams, where they are easily accessible by fish. Although pickerels are generally known to be voracious aquatic animals, their small size can sometimes limit their ability to consume a food source. However, pickerels are able to consume caddisflies because they, too, are small and abundant. Trout are also a major consumer of caddisflies. Trout can consume them during any of the caddisfly’s four life cycles, but primarily feed on caddisflies during their underwater larva stage. Bullheads also consume caddisfly larvae. In order to protect themselves from bullheads, caddisflies will hide or play dead within their cases. Bullheads tend to grow impatient and move on to other food sources.
