Where do caddisflies usually live during their larval stage?

Caddisfly larvae are primarily aquatic, inhabiting a wide range of freshwater environments such as lakes and rivers. They are highly sensitive to water velocity and oxygen concentration, which often makes them useful as biotic indicators of water quality.12

While the vast majority of species are aquatic, there are notable exceptions:
* The larva of one marine species, Philanisus plebeius, is found in the intertidal zones of New Zealand and southern Australia.2
* The larva of the terrestrial European species Enoicyla pusilla lives in damp leaf litter.2
* A few species are also known to inhabit brackish water.2

Within their habitats, larvae employ various survival strategies: some are free-living, while others construct protective cases from sand or plant debris, spin funnel-like webs between stones in running water, or create protective lairs using silk.3