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 Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This specimen appears to be of the same species as this one collected in the same spot two months earlier. The identification of both is tentative. This one suffered some physical damage before being photographed, too, so the colors aren't totally natural. I was mostly photographing it to test out some new camera setting idea, which worked really well for a couple of closeups.
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.

Case view of a Onocosmoecus (Limnephilidae) (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Chena River in Alaska
See the forum discussion for discussion with a caddis expert (Dave Ruiter / Creno) about the identification of this specimen. I'm a bit perplexed because some gills seem to have more than 4 branches, which would lead in a different direction at Couplet 18 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae, but Dave knew his stuff a lot better than I did. He was convinced this is Onocosmoecus. The current range maps would put this in Onocosmoecus unicolor as the only option, but he believed there are probably multiple not-yet-distinguished species under that umbrella and suggested keeping this one's ID at the genus level for that reason.
Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Apr 26, 2011April 26th, 2011, 6:57 pm EDT
Most likely Onocosmoecus but I want to look at a couple critters.
I like the new site look. It will take awhile to look around.
creno
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Apr 26, 2011April 26th, 2011, 7:04 pm EDT
Thanks! I'll stick it in there, provisionally.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Apr 27, 2011April 27th, 2011, 11:28 am EDT
Jason - I decided it is Onocosmoecus. While current taxonomy lists only Onocosmoecus unicolor from that part of the world, several folks have commented on the highly variable adult morphology across NA. Quite a few taxa have been synonymized within O. unicolor which also is often an indication of morphological variability. Current limited, provisional DNA results seems to indicate there may be a couple cryptic species withing O. unicolor so I would leave the photos at genus level for now.
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Apr 28, 2011April 28th, 2011, 12:29 am EDT
Thanks again! Will do.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
8
Mar 19, 2007
by DMM
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy