Artistic view of a Male Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult from the Gallatin River in Montana

Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica

The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.

The Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River in Alaska

Stream photos

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Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

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.

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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.

Can I get a better ID on this?

Hydropsyche aenigma (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult

18 Pictures

Lateral view of a Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York

These big caddisflies were tempting trout as they wriggled out of their shucks, while others skated across the water at a medium pace, probably egg-laying.

Collected May 14, 2007 from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York

Added by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Collected May 14, 2007 from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York and added by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on May 18, 2007May 18th, 2007, 1:43 pm EDT

I'm really just guessing. I'm too busy too key it out right now but I'd really like to know what it is. This was one of the main species the fish were taking (along with Apple Caddis) on the West Branch of the Delaware the other day.

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Taxon

Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311

Taxon on May 18, 2007May 18th, 2007, 4:22 pm EDT

Sure looks like Hydropsyche to me. There are ~13 species in NY, and I don't have access to species keys. However, I suppose H. betteni can be eliminated as a possibility, as your specimen would be too short for that species.

Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on May 20, 2007May 20th, 2007, 8:49 am EDT

If I'm reading the wing venation correctly in photo #16, this looks like Ceratopsyche.

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on Dec 22, 2007December 22nd, 2007, 10:10 am EST

Folks - Ceratopsyche - Symphitopsyche - Hydropsyche - just another problem for the splitters. Right now there seem to be two schools and both are represented in the previous postings.

While the photos are some of the best I have seen of the details necessary to make a determination, I cannot quite make out the single final character needed to be sure (the lateral spur on that most intimate of the male parts). But based on what I can see, and the great photo of the goldish spots on the wings I would suggest Hydropsyche (Ceratopsyche) aenigma.