Classification
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
Suborder: Annulipalpia
Superfamily: Hydropsychoidea
Family: Hydropsychidae (Net-spinning caddisfly)
Genus: Hydropsyche
Species: Hydropsyche betteni
H. betteni is eukaryotic, meaning they
have a true nucleus. Therefore, H. betteni is located
within the domain Eukarya. Within the domain Eukarya, H.
betteni falls under the kingdom Animalia. Organisms in this
kingdom are multicellular as well as heterotrophic (Resh, 2003).
H. betteni falls under the phylum Arthropoda.
Arthropods ("joint-footed animals") contain the characteristics
of paired and jointed appendages, a chitinous exoskeleton,
molting during growth, a nervous system with well developed
sense organs, and a complete digestive system. H. betteni
is classified under the subphylum Hexapoda as well.
Hexapods have six legs as well as three segments to their entire
body: a head, thorax, and abdomen. Within this phylum and
subphylum, H. betteni is classified under the class
Insecta. The majority of insects have two pairs of wings, three
pairs of legs, and a pair of antennae. Many also contain a
tracheal system allowing them to get oxygen from the air (Gillis,
2012).
Within the class Insecta, H. betteni falls under the
order Trichoptera (caddisflies). Trichoptera is derived from the
greek words of trichos, meaning hair, and pteron,
meaning wing. Members of this order, therefore, contain wings
with veins and hair (setae) that are folded "rooflike" over the
body. They are also found to be softer and small. Their larvae
are aquatic and their overall development is described as
holometabolous (Hickman, 2009).
Through further classification, we find that H. betteni
is found in the family Hydropsychidae (net-spinning
caddisfly). Hydropsychidae is derived from the Greek language
meaning "water nymph:" hydro, meaning water, and
psyche, meaning the soul (McLeod,
2005).