leaf-wrapped larvae in pond

[anniec]

Yesterday I spotted several creatures in my little garden pond wrapped in sections of water lily leaf, some with fragments of other vegetation poking out, looking like tiny cigars. Some of the creatures emerged partially, to reveal a slender body and relatively large eyes. Today I saw a round segment of water lily leaf and some fragments of pond weed on a semi-submerged lily leaf, moving slightly as though there was creature underneath the leaf matter wrapping itself. The lily has small leaves and several of them have had sections neatly sliced out, presumably by these creatures. Could these be damselfly larvae? This summer I have seen deep red damselflies, including one pair depositing eggs on a plant, and also a pair of greenish blue ones.

[2dogs2000]

Not sure but I think it could be caddis fly larvae.

[charlieb]

Yeah, sounds like caddis flies. Have a look at Riverfly - Trichoptera

[anniec]

Thank you very much for the replies, and the useful link to all the caddis info. I hadn't realised there were so many kinds, having only seen ones in flowing water that make cases out of gritty debris. The pond in question has been through a lot of problems over the past few years, at one point becoming a stinking, lifeless mess, and I'm gradually getting it back to good health again. Last year it was like pea soup - although no longer foul-smelling and the wildlife liked it - but now the water is beginning to clear, helped by barley straw and the shade from the now-flourishing water lily, and it's good to be able to see the inhabitants again.
After such quick and informative responses to my first post you can expect lots more queries in future!

[Tiggrx]

Another possibility could be the caterpillar of a China-mark moth

[charlieb]

Ah, could well be - moths never even crossed my mind

There's some pictures of Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata leaf damage here: UKMoths