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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.

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.
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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Here's what lived inside.

Dorsal view of a Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York
This peculiar midge lived in a case tightly fixed to a rock, with several others of its kind. The case seems to be made of tiny grains of sand. I'm not sure what the function is for the little lines sticking out the front, because they aren't legs.
DMM
Posts: 34
DMM on Apr 22, 2007April 22nd, 2007, 5:56 pm EDT
I believe this is Rheotanytarsus
David
Taxon
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Plano, TX

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Taxon on Apr 22, 2007April 22nd, 2007, 8:03 pm EDT
I believe this is Rheotanytarsus


David-

I know very little about Chironomids, but am interested in learning. So, I went to Merritt & Cummins to see if I could follow how you made this identification. The last larval couplet for Rheotanytarsus reads as follows:

15’. Distal portion of 2nd antennal segment only moderately expanded (Fig. 26.121);
………mentum not strongly arched (Fig. 26.102) …………… Rheotanytarsus Bause

Fig. 26.121 appears below, and is titled Second antennal segment of Rheotanytarsus sp.



Jason’s picture_2885_full cropped to show only the head and darkened a bit appears below:



Unless I am seriously missing something, which certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented, Rheotanytarsus antennae appear to be branched following the 2nd segment, and I don’t see that character in Jason’s picture. Please advise.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Taxon
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Plano, TX

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Taxon on Apr 23, 2007April 23rd, 2007, 9:38 am EDT
Really great information, David. There are some of us on here who really appreciate the details, so please don't be reluctant to volunteer them.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

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Troutnut on Apr 23, 2007April 23rd, 2007, 2:08 pm EDT
Ditto what Taxon said.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

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