Distribution: The species is mainly distributed in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

Habitat: The aquatic stages of Rhyacophila glareosa live near springs, in trickles and rivulets in mountainous regions (Botosaneanu & Malicky 1978, Pitsch 1993). They do not tolerate organic pollutions.

Nutrition: Larvae are carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates (Waringer & Graf 1997, Graf et al. 2002).

Adults: Adults are on the wing from June to September (Waringer & Graf 1997).