No, It's Not 'Alien' (IMAGE) University of Utah Caption Despite its resemblance to Hollywood's fictional "Alien," the critter shown here is a caddisfly larva known to western US fly fishermen as a "rock roller." The larva builds and carries its own underwater shelter case, using ribbons of natural sticky silk to stitch together grains of sand and rock (right rear of this photo.) But when placed in a lab aquarium with glass beads instead of sand grains, the larva uses its wet silk to add beads to its shelter case (center). Russell Stewart, a University of Utah bioengineer, hopes to make a synthetic version of the caddisfly silk for use as a surgical adhesive. Credit Fred Hayes Usage Restrictions Photo must be credited to Fred Hayes. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.