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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.

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington
I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.
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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Caddisfly Species Ecclisomyia conspersa (Early Western Mottled Sedges)

Where & when

In 42 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during June (38%), July (31%), May (19%), and April (7%).

In 22 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 66 to 11886 ft, with an average (median) of 3900 ft.

Species Range

Hatching behavior

The pupae emerge by crawling out onto shore.

Larva & pupa biology

Current speed: Fast

Substrate: Rocks and gravel

Identification

Source: The Nearctic Ecclisomyia species (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)

Larval diagnosis. The Ecclisomyia conspersa larva may be separated from the other three Nearctic species by the presence of lateral line gills on abdominal segments II – IV (Fig. 42), lacking in Ecclisomyia bilera, Ecclisomyia maculosa, and Ecclisomyia simulata (Fig. 42). The Ecclisomyia conspersa larva has anterodorsal and anteroventral gills on abdominal segment VII, lacking on the Ecclisomyia maculosa larva. Ecclisomyia conspersa is without dorsoanterior gills on abdominal segment II, but Ecclisomyia simulata larva has them (Fig. 42). The larva of Ecclisomyia conspersa is larger (9 – 16 mm) than larvae of the other three species of Nearctic Ecclisomyia (9 – 12 mm) long. Source: The Nearctic Ecclisomyia species (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)

Male diagnosis. The single black stout basal spine (Fig. 10 a) arising from each inferior appendage separates Ecclisomyia conspersa from the other three Nearctic species. The inferior appendages of Ecclisomyia bilera lack spines; those of Ecclisomyia maculosa and Ecclisomyia simulata each have 2 long black stout basal spines arising from the mesobasal area (Figs. 22 b, 23 b, 30 b, 31 b). The parameres of Ecclisomyia conspersa are narrow, rounded, and nearly uniform in diameter (Fig. 11 a); those of Ecclisomyia bilera are narrow caudally with distal ends angled dorsad (Figs. 1 a, 2 a); parameres of Ecclisomyia maculosa and Ecclisomyia simulata are fused and with the distal ends incised (Figs. 22 b, 30 b).

Source: The Nearctic Ecclisomyia species (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)

Pupal diagnosis. Ecclisomyia conspersa pupae may be separated from the other three Nearctic Ecclisomyia species by the presence of lateral line gills on abdominal segments IIp – IVa (Fig. 42), lacking in Ecclisomyia bilera, Ecclisomyia maculosa, and Ecclisomyia simulata (Fig. 42). Each apical process of Ecclisomyia conspersa has 3 long, black stout setae at the apex (Figs. 15 a, 15 b, 17 a, 17 b), whereas those of Ecclisomyia bilera, Ecclisomyia maculosa, and Ecclisomyia simulata each have 2 long black stout setae at the apex (Figs. 5 a, 6 a, 7 a, 26 a, 26 b, 27 a, 28 a, 33 a, 33 b, 34 a, 35 a). The apical process lobes of Ecclisomyia conspersa pupae are straight (Fig. 15 a), not mesally convergent as in the other Ecclisomyia species, however the apical processes of males of Ecclisomyia simulata may sometimes be directed straight caudad, not mesally convergent. The pupal antennae of the Ecclisomyia conspersa female extend to or slightly posterior to the anterior margin of abdominal segment VI, and may extend to the anterior margin of abdominal segment VII. In the other three species the female pupal antennae extend only to the posterior margin of abdominal segment V.


Start a Discussion of Ecclisomyia conspersa

References

  • LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.

Caddisfly Species Ecclisomyia conspersa (Early Western Mottled Sedges)

Taxonomy
Species Range
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