The Glossosomatidae are a family of the class Insecta and order Trichoptera.The family contains 23 genera in three subfamilies. In the US alone, there are 76 spp. in 6 different genera. Glossosomatids, commonly known as the Tortoise or Saddle-Case Makers, and are worldwide in distribution. The common names were derived from the domed shaped cases created by the larvae. The first species was described by John Curtis in 1843, but the family wasn't created until 1891 by HDJ Wallengren.