Today we have been looking in our wildlife ponds and found lots of surprises!

We were lucky enough to spot newts, pond skaters, water snails, frog spawn and tadpoles.

But what surprised us the most was finding caddisfly larvae in their unique protective casing.

Caddisfly (Trichoptera) are moth-like insects that usually fly at night and are attracted to light. They are found near fresh natural sources of water as most species will spend some of their life stages in the water. The adult females lay eggs in fresh, clean water which has a good oxygen level. When the larvae hatch they build protective casings around themselves with plant debris and even sand and small stones.

The larvae play an important role in the aquatic community, reducing plant growth and disposing of animal and plant debris. Most adult caddisflies are incapable of feeding on solids and instead imbibe nectar from flowers. So, the species are also important natural pollinators.

We are really happy that our pond has developed into a welcoming habitat for such a wide variety of species. The long grass, log piles, amphibian habitats, bug hotel, native hedging and no chemicals all play their roles in supporting a diverse variety of wildlife which is incredibly important for the wider environmental balance.