The aim of this study was to assess the feeding preference, growth and survivorship of Phylloicus sp. larvae (Trichoptera, Calamoceratidae) exposed to conditioned leaf discs of 3 plant species native from the Brazilian Cerrado (Myrcia guyanensis, Miconia chartacea and Protium brasiliense) and one non-native species (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). Larvae only consumed discs of E. camaldulensis (4.61 ± 0.30 mg DW), M. chartacea (3.37 ± 0.47 mg DW) and M. guyanensis (3.12 ± 0.35 mg DW), and the discs of E. camaldulensis were preferred. Percentages of daily growth varied from 0.28 ± 0.10 % to 0.51 ± 0.11 % and did not differ among food items. The higher percentage of survivorship was observed on larvae exposed to E. camaldulensis (61 %), followed by M. chartacea (55 %), M. guyanensis (42 %) and P. brasiliense (28 %). E. camaldulensis leaves presented the highest amounts of phenolics (4.08 ± 0.32 %) and M. guyanensis the highest toughness values (276.96 ± 16.25 g). Our results suggest that leaf toughness may be one characteristic that influences the feeding behavior of Phylloicus sp. larvae, and also reflect the low nutritional quality of leaf species that are normally found in the riparian zones of Brazilian Cerrado.