Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) of Montane and Alpine Lakes of Northern Colorado (USA)

Adult caddisflies of 138 montane and alpine lentic habitats, primarily lakes, of 7 northern Colorado counties are reported for the first time. Our objective was to provide species records of adult caddisflies from high-altitude lentic habitats that may potentially be impacted by current and future global climate change. Field collections of adults and captive rearing of larval specimens were coupled with unpublished records and an extensive review of published records, resulting in 541 confirmed caddisfly species records. Forty-nine caddisfly species, representing 24% of all known Colorado species are documented. Seven families and 21 genera are represented. The Limnephilidae comprised 76% of the 49 recorded species. The other 6 families were represented by only 1–4 species. One species was documented from alpine lakes only, 25 species from both montane and alpine lakes, 22 species from montane lakes only, and 1 species record could not be attributed to an elevation zone. We documented 6 regionally endemic species, 2 of which were recognized as vulnerable to extinction. Montane and alpine lakes are vulnerable ecosystems likely to be impacted by climate change. Comprehensive faunal surveys are key to understanding long-term biodiversity changes and establishing conservation needs and priorities. Species lists of taxa are important to monitor future faunal biodiversity changes. Registramos por primera vez tricópteros adultos en 138 hábitats lénticos montañosos y alpinos, principalmente compuestos por lagos, de siete condados del norte de Colorado. Nuestro objetivo fue proporcionar registros de especies de tricópteros adultas de hábitats lénticos de gran altitud que podrían verse afectados por el cambio climático global actual y futuro. Las recolecciones de tricópteros adultos en el campo y la cría en cautividad de especímenes larvarios se combinaron con registros inéditos y una amplia revisión de los registros publicados, lo que dio como resultado 541 registros confirmados de especies de tricópteros. Se documentaron 49 especies de tricópteros, que representan el 24% de todas las especies conocidas de Colorado. Están representadas siete familias y 21 géneros. Los Limnephilidae comprenden el 76% de las 49 especies registradas. Las otras seis familias estaban representadas por sólo 1–4 especies. Una especie se documentó únicamente en lagos alpinos, 25 especies en lagos montañosos y alpinos, 22 especies se documentaron únicamente en lagos montañosos y un registr