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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.

Ventral view of a Hydropsyche (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
With a bit of help from the microscope, this specimen keys clearly and unsurprisingly to Hydropsyche.
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.

Argia Damselfly Nymph Pictures

My friend Willy captured this early instar damselfly nymph and brought it to me for identification. It is more robust and stocky at this early stage than the spindly appearance of the later instars, and its appearance is less familiar.

Argia (Coenagrionidae) Damselfly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York
Dorsal view of a Argia (Coenagrionidae) Damselfly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York
Argia (Coenagrionidae) Damselfly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York

This damselfly was collected from Fall Creek in New York on August 28th, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 14th, 2006.

Discussions of this Nymph

What size are damselflies?
1 replies
Posted by Adirman on Jun 28, 2012
Last reply on Jun 28, 2012 by Entoman
Whenever I go up to the Adirondacks in midsummer to fish, I always observe alot of damselflies aroundand know the trout take them, at least occasionally, because I've watched them do it. I was wondering what size the nymphs were and if a black stone fly pattern of correct size might imitate the nymph well enough.

Thanks!!

Adirman
irradecant blue damselfly
Posted by Mwmeci on Jul 3, 2008
Last reply on Jul 3, 2008 by Mwmeci
The trout in Wisconsin on July 3, 2008 were eating the fly's as they emerged. Gosh they make a ruckus as they took to the air. They only emerged under a very low bridge, not upstream or downstream from the bridge. I've never witnessed this before.
Argia characters
Posted by DMM on Nov 26, 2006
Last reply on Nov 26, 2006 by DMM
One reason I think it's Argia, is that this genus is characteristically "stubby" and "robust" through the last instar. Without verification, I think it is the stubbiest of the Zygoptera.
Genus ID
Posted by DMM on Nov 18, 2006
Last reply on Nov 18, 2006 by DMM
May be Argia, detailed pictures of the prementum are always good for the ID of Odonata. Odonata can be tricky in general though, so the more details the better.

Start a Discussion of Nymph

Argia Damselfly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: Fall Creek, New York
Date: August 28th, 2005
Added to site: April 14th, 2006
Author: Troutnut
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