Hi, I am Kathy the Caddisfly Lady. I have honored that title for over 30 years. You see, I have been learning about caddisfly larva since 1995. Yes, and when My husband Ben Stout, a very well known Stream ecologist, and I discovered that the Caddisfly larva would build with different materials then were in the stream, Well, it was on.
I had never heard of the Caddisfly until I met my husband at Virginia Tech. I though, WHAT! these bugs are so cool! we have to tell everyone. Well that was not really going to happen then, but we kept working with the caddisfly in a simulated steam set up and discovered that they would build with Gem Stones! I started with aquarium gravel and they built with it. Then I bought a piece of turquoise and crushed it up for the Caddisfly larva, and they built with that! Then I was Like!!!! OK, I have to do this!!!
So, building a simulated stream. Well that took us 3 years. Yes, you see a stream is at a constant temperature. Head water streams are around 55-60 F. So, in order to raise the caddisfly lara, we needed to provide them the same temperature, and water quality as in a native stream. Plus, the water is moving and has aeration. So we needed to be able to keep the Temperature at 55-60 and to keep the Water aerated.
After many failed atemps , we finally designed a system that would work.
We had to keep the water temperature chilled. We used water chillers and air conditioners for the room. Then we used Aerators, bubblers to keep the water oxygenated. IT WORKED! Our larva emerged as adults!! It was so amazing to watch our little babies grow up and fly away.
So, Now, I can teach you how to raise Caddisfly Larva. I can teach you how to create beautiful unique jewelry! I am willing to share my resourses with you. So, what do you want to do?!
Please Contact me and I will be glad to help you in any way that I can.
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