A caddisfly larva wears a house made from the streambed — ChillScroll

A caddisfly larva underwater in a tapered case of sand grains and pine needles

A caddisfly larva wears a house made from the streambed

The larva spins silk and uses it to bind nearby sand grains, tiny stones, pine needles or leaf pieces into a protective case. The little case travels wherever the larva crawls.

The stream provides the pebbles; the larva supplies the glue and wears the result.

Source · U.S. National Park Service ↗