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Lateral view of a Male Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #43 in New York
Blue-winged Olives
Baetis

Tiny Baetis mayflies are perhaps the most commonly encountered and imitated by anglers on all American trout streams due to their great abundance, widespread distribution, and trout-friendly emergence habits.

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
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Willy has attached this picture. The message is below.
Willy
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Chicago, IL

Posts: 47
Willy on Jun 7, 2006June 7th, 2006, 8:31 am EDT
?
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Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Jun 8, 2006June 8th, 2006, 7:12 pm EDT
Willy-

Perhaps they're grooming one another to get some nourishment before returning home. So, what insect order do you think they are? Are they aquatic or terrestrial?

EDIT: 06/09/2006 21:25 PDT

Willy-

Oh well, if you won't talk to me, guess I can always talk to myself.

The insects are:
Order: Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
Suborder: Apocrita (Ants, Bees and Wasps)
Superfamily: Apoidea (Bees)
Family: Andrenidae (Mining Bees)
Genus: (probably) Andrena

I believe the redhead to be a male, but one would need to count antennal segments to be sure. Males have 13 antennal segments, and females have 12.

Here is the URL for what one looks like closer up: http://static.flickr.com/45/130985530_85274519e7_o.jpg

Hope you will find this information as rewarding as was my pursuit of it.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

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