Green Rockworms

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Scientific Name

Match	Scientific Name
	Rhyacophila

This common name refers to only one genus.

Caddisfly Genus Rhyacophila

These are sometimes called Green Rockworms.

The large free-living larvae of the Rhyacophila genus are among the best-known caddisflies, and for good reason, because their unique biology is both interesting to entomologists and compatible with trout fishing. There are over 100 species, and many of them can be important.

Rhyacophila (Green Sedges) Caddisfly Nymph

View 2 Pictures

Collected May 8, 2005 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on June 27, 2011

Rhyacophila fuscula (Green Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

View 11 Pictures

Collected April 1, 2007 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on April 3, 2007

Rhyacophila (Green Sedges) Caddisfly Pupa

View 11 PicturesI collected this pupa and several like it from the same stream and on the same day as this larva. I suspect they're the same species. Every pupa I collected was in a brown casing like the one shown in one of the pictures below. I cut this pupa out of its case after a picture so you can see more details. It is close to but not fully developed.

Collected June 5, 2005 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on May 25, 2006

Female Rhyacophila (Green Sedges) Caddisfly Adult

View 3 Pictures

Collected April 30, 2004 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on January 25, 2006

See 5 more specimens...

Jargon Defined:

Larvae: Many classes of aquatic insects, such as caddisflies, midges, craneflies, dobsonflies, alderflies, and many more, are known as "larvae" rather than "nymphs" in their juvenile stages. They have mostly soft bodies rather than hard exoskeletons. These insects also advance through a "pupa" stage before reaching adulthood.

Pupa: Any insect which spends most of its juvenile lifetime as a larva first becomes a pupa for a time before emerging as a fully grown adult. Depending on the species, the pupal form can be very important for fly fishermen to imitate.