The Caddisflies (Trichoptera) of an Undisturbed Lower Michigan Habitat

The caddisfly assemblages of small streams, medium floodplain and forested rivers, and lakes within the Black River Ranch, a relatively undisturbed habitat in northern Lower Michigan, were sampled during 2014–2015 using ultraviolet light traps to establish a reference assemblage for the caddisflies of the region. A total of 117 species were collected including three—Hydroptila amoena Ross, H. novicola Blickle and Morse, and H. quinola Ross—not previously reported from Michigan. All species and their habitat affinities are reported herein. Individual sampling sites all had high levels of species richness compared to similar habitat types throughout Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and included the single most species-rich sample from any of the three states. Due to this high species richness, as well as a trophic functional composition indicative of undisturbed ecosystems, the Black River Ranch assemblage is probably the most appropriate assemblage to use as a regional biological monitoring reference site.