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.

Stream photos

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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

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.

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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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Phryganeidae Caddisfly Larva Pictures

This "specimen" is actually two caddis larvae fighting each other over a case. The case is a hollow tube; one larva would go in the back end, presumably bite the other, and chase it out. The invader crawled forward into the case while the other one fled, and then it went around to the back and bit the first one. They did this several times, and I recorded it on video.

Video Clip

Two Phryganeidae caddis larvae fighting over a case

Caddisfly larvae of this family can easily leave and re-enters their cases. I caught two of them playing musical chairs or something with this one... funny!

Featuring: Phryganeidae Caddisfly Larva

Shot on Feb 29, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on Mar 30, 2006

This caddisfly was collected from unknown in Wisconsin on March 1st, 2004 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25th, 2006.

Discussions of this Larva

this video is fascinating!

15 replies

Posted by Creno on Oct 22, 2011

Last reply on Oct 26, 2011 by Oldredbarn

Not sure why I didn't see this before - just another hidden wonder on your site I guess. Did you notice they seem to run around the short side of the case? I suspect they should know what side is the short side is but still..... why? Energy conservation doesn't make alot of sense since if they were conserving energy it would seem they would have quit alot earlier. What happened after they stopped? Did they start over? I thought they would have tired out way before they did. Did you have a hot light on the tray? absolutely fascinating! Thanks

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