Header image
Enter a name
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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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.

Caddisfly Species Rhyacophila lobifera (Green Sedges)

Where & when

Time of year : May and June

This species is reportedly most common in Pennsylvania and New York.

In 29 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during April (45%), May (31%), March (10%), and June (7%).

In 25 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 374 to 4183 ft, with an average (median) of 2805 ft.

Species Range

Egg-Laying behavior

Gary LaFontaine reports in Caddisflies that adults of this species may gather in tight balls and float along on the surface. I have observed this peculiar behavior in other caddisfly species, and I assume it has something to do with mating.

Start a Discussion of Rhyacophila lobifera

References

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

Caddisfly Species Rhyacophila lobifera (Green Sedges)

Taxonomy
Species Range
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy