Caddisfly Larva in Its Mobile Home (IMAGE)

University of Utah

Caddisfly Larva in Its Mobile Home

Caption

This caddisfly larva -- known as a "rock roller" to Utah and Wyoming fly fishermen -- lives underwater and spins natural sticky silk to build an underwater mobile home or case made of sand and rock grains (right half of image). But when placed in a laboratory aquarium with glass beads, the larva uses those beads to continue building its case (center). University of Utah bioengineer Russell Stewart has characterized the caddisfly's wet adhesive silk and hopes to synthesize a version for use as an adhesive tape during surgery.

Credit

Fred Hayes.

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Photo must be credited to Fred Hayes

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