The grass is always greener on the other side: Triplectides Kolenati, 1859 (Leptoceridae) and Marilia Müller, 1880 (Odontoceridae) occupying cases of other Trichoptera species

Abstract

Aim: Larvae of Triplectides spp. and Marilia sp. occupying cases of other species are recorded and photographed; Methods: The material was collected in different sites and dates in Atlantic Forest and Central Amazon regions; Results: The Triplectides larvae seem to have an opportunistic behavior, occupying a great variety of cases, which reflects their common habit of enter in hollow twigs instead of build complex cases. However, this behavior is not frequently recorded in Marilia larvae, and we believe that the difference on the roughness of the interior walls, as well as the difference of the color of the material of the cases limit the opportunistic behavior in this genus; Conclusions: Experimental studies with different species can help the understanding of this behavior in the light of adaptive values.