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.
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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.
— 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.
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Stonefly Family Taeniopterygidae (Willowflies)
The Early Brown and Early Black Willowflies of this family are some of the first relevant insects of the very early season. The egg-laying adults produce good dry fly fishing on lucky days when the river warms enough for the trout to rise. On cooler days their nymphs produce well.
Family Range
Specimens of the Stonefly Family Taeniopterygidae
4 Male Adults
This male died overnight before I had the chance to photograph him, so his abdomen is shorter than it should be because it shriveled a bit.
Collected from N. Touchet River at Touchet Corral.
2 Female Adults
Several stoneflies of this species were the first adult insects I found in 2004 when I started this site. The hatch was sparse but lasted a good part of the day, and I noted a few good rises despite the early season cold. They ended up struggling on the water's surface fairly often.
Several stoneflies of this species were the first adult insects I found in 2004 when I started this site. The hatch was sparse but lasted a good part of the day, and I noted a few good rises despite the early season cold. They ended up struggling on the water's surface fairly often.
2 Adults
8 Nymphs
This specimen was the only one of its kind in my kick net sample from this small creek. At first I thought it was Nemouridae, but it's not. Unfortunately, there is no species key available for Taenionema nymphs. Potential species found in Washington include nigripenne, oregonense, pacificum, and pallidum.
I found this nymph wriggling in the surface film during a hatch of related Strophopteryx adults. This nymph died in transport so it's not alive in the photos, but it's pretty close to its live colors.
3 Underwater Pictures of Taeniopterygidae Stoneflies:
There are several mayfly and stonefly nymphs clinging to this log.
In this picture: Stonefly Family Taeniopterygidae (Willowfly) and Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive).
Start a Discussion of Taeniopterygidae
Stonefly Family Taeniopterygidae (Willowflies)
Taxonomy
Genus in Taeniopterygidae
Bolotoperla
0
0
Doddsia
1
1
Oemopteryx
0
0
StrophopteryxEarly Brown Stoneflies
5
17
Taenionema
4
23
TaeniopteryxEarly Black Stoneflies
5
13
Genus in Taeniopterygidae: Bolotoperla, Doddsia, Oemopteryx, Strophopteryx, Taenionema, Taeniopteryx