Tiny Winter Blacks

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Scientific Names

Match	Scientific Name
	Capniidae
	Leuctridae
	Nemouridae

Like most common names, "Tiny Winter Black" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 4 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.

Stonefly Family Capniidae

These are often called Tiny Winter Blacks.

These are the first stoneflies of the year to appear in most parts of the country, and often the first aquatic insects noticed by the angler. Their dark brown or black bodies are easy to spot against the snowbanks where they crawl around.

Capnia and Allocapnia are probably the most common genera of this prolific family.

Capniidae (Tiny Winter Blacks) Stonefly Nymph

View 4 Pictures

Region: Northeast

Collected Mar 13, 2005

Added Apr 5, 2006

Capniidae (Tiny Winter Blacks) Stonefly Adult

View 6 Pictures

Region: Northeast

Collected Mar 29, 2005

Added Apr 7, 2006

See 3 more specimens...

Stonefly Family Leuctridae

These are sometimes called Tiny Winter Blacks.

Leuctra is the only genus of any known importance to trout anglers. Their wings are rolled to a needle-like point; hence the common name, needle flies.

Stonefly Family Nemouridae

These are sometimes called Tiny Winter Blacks.

This is one of the less common genera of Tiny Winter Blacks.

Prostoia (Tiny Winter Blacks) Stonefly Nymph

View 6 Pictures

Region: Northeast

Collected Mar 29, 2005

Added Apr 7, 2006

Female Amphinemura (Tiny Winter Blacks) Stonefly Adult

View 5 PicturesA few of these tiny stoneflies were among the only species of aquatic insect adults in the air on this particular afternoon, with most of the action coming from a species of Epeorus mayfly. I somehow forgot to photograph this one on the usual ruler, but I recall it was very, very small, with an abdomen no more than 1mm in girth and the body, not counting the wings, probably just 5-7mm long.

Region: Catskills

Collected Sep 6, 2006

Added Oct 4, 2006