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Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Hex Mayflies
Hexagenia limbata

The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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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Rhyacophila carolina (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Pictures

This specimens shows that the name "green rockworm" doesn't quite fit all Rhyacophila larvae, even though it does fit the majority. This is actually the first of their larvae that I've found in a different color. I'm not sure if it's because of the species or because this is a young one, but I have found equally small green larvae, so I'm guessing it's the species.

Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Ventral view of a Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Dorsal view of a Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Ruler view of a Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York
Rhyacophila carolina (Rhyacophilidae) (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York

This caddisfly was collected from Mongaup Creek in New York on May 6th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18th, 2007.

Discussions of this Larva

carolina?
3 replies
Posted by Litobrancha on Jun 12, 2007
Last reply on May 16, 2011 by Peter_O
fits carolina in the key, but something doesn't look right to me, head shape doesn't really look like carolina and it is rather hairy. love to see an adult!!!

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Rhyacophila carolina (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Pictures

Collection details
Location: Mongaup Creek, New York
Date: May 6th, 2007
Added to site: May 18th, 2007
Author: Troutnut
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