Limnephilus politus

This is one of several relatively plain caddisflies with faint speckling on the forewings. A side view of the tip of the abdomen is probably necessary for identification of males. The forewings showed a plainer band covering the basal two thirds of the lower half of the wing - this appears to be present in other photos of the species online but I'm not sure if it is helpful for identification or not (maybe shared with e.g. luridus?).

male Limnephilus politusshowing abdomen tip (side, dorsal, ventral and caudal views, and dorsal after clearing), North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 14th October 2022

My next was also a male. The pattern on the inner surface of the superior appendage is also useful, so I removed the superior appendage from the left side in order to get a better look at the one on the right.

male Limnephilus politusshowing abdomen tip (side, dorsal and ventral views) and innner surface of superior appendage, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 25th September 2023