Pycnopsyche scabripennis

Also known as Giant Red Sedge

Giant red sedge larvae inhabit cool, clear woodland streams where they construct portable protective cases out of bits of wood, leaf fragments, and sand. As adults, these heavy-bodied caddisflies emerge in late summer and autumn, flying primarily at night near aquatic margins. Their underwater larvae play a crucial ecological role by shredding submerged leaf litter and recycling nutrients within headwater ecosystems.