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.

Firehole River Sunset

From the Firehole River in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Pycnopsyche guttifera (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Pycnopsyche guttifera (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen appears to be of the same species as this one collected in the same spot two months earlier. The identification of both is tentative. This one suffered some physical damage before being photographed, too, so the colors aren't totally natural. I was mostly photographing it to test out some new camera setting idea, which worked really well for a couple of closeups.

10 Recently Added Photos

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.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Stonefly Genus Perlesta (Golden Stones)

This is a large genus in the Acroneuriinae subfamily that currently contains 24 species. Distribution is primarily southern though a few species make it into the East and Midwest. Perlesta placida is reportedly a common species. Only a single western species of limited importance and distribution is known for the southern Rockies.

Where & when

In 194 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during June (42%), July (27%), May (18%), and August (10%).

In 34 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 420 to 11001 ft, with an average (median) of 4117 ft.

Genus Range

source

Map of specific collection sites

Identification

To determine whether a specimen of Perlidae belongs to Perlesta, use the Key to Genera of Perlidae Nymphs.

Specimens of the Stonefly Genus Perlesta

1 Female Adult

Female Perlesta (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult

9 Pictures

Lateral view of a Female Perlesta (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult from Enfield Creek in New York

This stonefly species was the most common insect over the small stream I fished one August afternoon; I saw dozens in their egg-laying flights.

Collected August 23, 2006 from Enfield Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on August 27, 2006

Collected August 23, 2006 from Enfield Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on August 27, 2006

Discussions of Perlesta

Perlesta placida

14 replies

Posted by Mad4Trout on Jul 3, 2011 in the species Perlesta placida

Last reply on Nov 27, 2011 by Mad4Trout

I don't know why "Stoneflies of the United States" has such a limited range for Perlesta placida, but we (Madmen Chapter of TU) have collected them on the Mad River, Logan Co., OH. They were reported by Gaufin (1956, Ohio J. Sci. 56 (6):321-324) in numerous counties. They have been recorded more recently by Ohio EPA.

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