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3. Snow Sedge

There were enough of these flitting around in the evening to keep the fish looking up. Anglers can easily confuse these with Dicosmoecus species (October Caddis) at this time of year, but their wings are quite different and they like gentler flows.

Really nice pics Kurt! 22mm! Sweet.

Spence

Hi Kurt-

Given the presence of (5) Psychoglypha species in Idaho, I am both surprised and impressed that you were able to identify this one as Psychoglypha alascensis. Do you have access to Psychoglypha adult keys, which you have not chosen to share with me?

Thanks, Spence.

Hi Roger - Nah, I would never hold out on you!:) I came to this primarily through distribution records and the descriptive differences of the two common species known for the panhandle. The lack of black spots on the last seg together with the lack of a red stigma on a more severely scalloped hind wing fits nicely with local descriptions of alascensis as opposed to your specimens that are more consistent with the descriptions of the other species, subborealis. See this link: http://www.bugsunlimited.us/key/trichoptera/limnephilidae/psychoglypha_subborealis.html

As usual, I reserve the right to be completely wrong.:)

Okay. Incidentally, there's a new id request on my forum for you. Thanks.

Yes, I noticed. I'm on it.

BTW - I find AIOC very handy, too. You have to sort out all the nomenclature changes since its publication, but it does have Denning's species keys in it.

Spence -

A species in this genus lives in your neck of the woods. Have you ever run across it?

Kurt,

I can't say I have...It's general appearance, in your photo, is similar to our "Autumn Mottled Sedge", Neophylax fuscus or concinnus...The size is way off with Neophylax running from 9-12mm.

It would seem that something running 22mm would be noticed. By me and the fish. :)

We do have the "Great Brown Autumn Sedge" Pycnopsyche that are listed as running up to 22mm. I can't say I've seen one of these either.

Spence

It doesn't show in the picture well but this critter has a thin silver horizontal stripe running down the middle of its wing. It is very obvious in the hand and definitely its most striking character. Hence, the common name Silver Stripe Sedge (usually used for another genus) may be applied to it by some.

Sorry for not pointing out this significant character before... Is it any help?

What size is that? I saw something that looked very similar this past Sunday while hiking near the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River (Central, PA). I caught one and it appeared to be a size 16 or 18.

Hi Bruce,

Ah! It just so happens I've been tying them today. Giving a size for these big boys is tough because it depends on the style of fly and hook you choose. They flit about so much that I prefer a fly that can move without getting too bogged down (like most palmer hackles do). I also don't like the stiff wing to go too far past the bend for hooking purposes. Complicating matters, their bodies are also much shorter than their wings. Here's my solution. They're tied on 2X long dry fly hooks in sizes 6 to 10:

Skittering October Caddis #8

Nice Kurt! I'd love to watch you float one of these when they are about. I bet they smack it...hard!

Spence

Very nice flies, Kurt. The antennae are a nice touch! I would love to see some of the naturals around here - hatches are getting thin but I am still seeing a few caddisflies (mostly Nectopsyche but some occasional small gray species as well) and even the odd mayfly or two every now and then.

Jonathon

Thanks, guys.

Yeah they do slam 'em, Spence. This is the time of year when the big boys will slash away even without a hatch. They are looking up all day. Going to the St. Joe tomorrow to cast a few.

Nice tie there Kurt! Have a good day!