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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GONZO on Oct 6, 2006October 6th, 2006, 5:56 am EDT
Really cool pictures, Jason. My first impression was classic Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedge), and I can't find anything to indicate otherwise--size, color, maxillary palp, and wing all seem right on. Wish I could help with the species, but with many caddisflies I'm happy just to get the genus right. :)
It is interesting to note that some books say that the coloring of many Cheumatopsyche species gets lighter as the season progresses. That certainly doesn't seem to be the case here.
It is interesting to note that some books say that the coloring of many Cheumatopsyche species gets lighter as the season progresses. That certainly doesn't seem to be the case here.