Caddisfly Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms)
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
» Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms)
| Genus in Brachycentridae |  |  |
| AmiocentrusLittle Western Weedy-Water Sedges | 0 | 0 |
| BrachycentrusGrannoms | 4 | 42 |
| MicrosemaLittle Grannoms | 1 | 5 |
2 genera aren't included.
Common Name
| Match | Common Name |
 | Apple Caddis and Grannoms |
Hatching Behavior
Brachycentridae caddisflies emerge on the surface. The pupae may drift for 10 to 20 feet on the surface, but once they escape their shucks (
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Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.
The emergence of most species is unusually concentrated, causing good rises of trout.
Egg-Laying Behavior
Females may dive underwater or fall spent (Spent: The wing position of many aquatic insects when they fall on the water after mating. The wings of both sides lay flat on the water. The word may be used to describe insects with their wings in that position, as well as the position itself.) on the surface to lay their eggs.Larva & Pupa Biology
Diet: Algae, planktonShelter Type: Plant matter or rock, arranged in circular or rectangular cross-section
Brachycentridae Fly Fishing Tips
Swisher and Richards note in Selective Trout that the males are a hook size smaller than the females. This may not be important during emergence, but one should certainly use the larger size during the all-female egg-laying.9 Caddisfly Specimens in the Family Brachycentridae:
Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis) Caddisfly Adult
View 5 Pictures
View 5 PicturesRegion: Catskills
Collected May 7, 2005
Added May 16, 2006
Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis) Caddisfly Adult
View 13 PicturesI captured this specimen in the same color as this photograph, during its egg-laying flight. The emergers are much lighter.
View 13 PicturesI captured this specimen in the same color as this photograph, during its egg-laying flight. The emergers are much lighter.Region: Catskills
Collected May 13, 2007
Added May 18, 2007
Brachycentrus (Grannoms) Caddisfly Pupa
View 10 PicturesThe green blob contained in this case is a pupa in the early stages of transformation from larva to the final stage we generally picture and imitate. This specimen and several like it were fixed to a rock I picked up, and each one had the front of its case sealed off, protecting the helpless pupa from predation. It's neat to see the insect part-way through such a radical transformation.
It was very hard to extract this thing from its case, so there's a bit of extra goo near the head from where I accidentally punctured it.
View 10 PicturesThe green blob contained in this case is a pupa in the early stages of transformation from larva to the final stage we generally picture and imitate. This specimen and several like it were fixed to a rock I picked up, and each one had the front of its case sealed off, protecting the helpless pupa from predation. It's neat to see the insect part-way through such a radical transformation.It was very hard to extract this thing from its case, so there's a bit of extra goo near the head from where I accidentally punctured it.
Region: Northeast
Collected Apr 14, 2007
Added Apr 22, 2007
2 Streamside Pictures of Brachycentridae Caddisflies:
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I'm not sure what these clusters of grannoms are doing lying dead and mostly upside down in clusters on the rocks. Anyone have an explanation?
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Brachycentrus (Grannoms).
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Brachycentrus (Grannoms).
4 Underwater Pictures of Brachycentridae Caddisflies:
This picture from below shows a stillborn (Stillborn: In fly fishing, a stillborn insect is one which got stuck in its nymphal or pupal shuck during emergence and floats helplessly on the surface instead of flying away. It is a specific class of cripple, although it is sometimes used interchangeably with that term.) Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) dun drifting on the surface amidst a number of shed pupal skins from Brachycentrus caddisflies which were heavily hatching that day.
In this picture: Mayfly Species Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) and Caddisfly Species Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis).
In this picture: Mayfly Species Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) and Caddisfly Species Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis).
The large caddisfly case (really less than 1/2 inch) is a Brachycentridae larva. The other cases are actually the protective sheaths of black fly (Simuliidae) pupae. The two antler-like pieces sticking out of each one are not legs, but antennal sheaths.
In this picture: True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies) and Caddisfly Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms).
In this picture: True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies) and Caddisfly Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms).
A Brachycentrus "Apple Caddis" pupa scoots around in the surface film. Apparently it had some difficulty emerging, so I was able to slip my camera underneath it and take a picture from below.
In this picture: Caddisfly Species Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis).
In this picture: Caddisfly Species Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis).
Recent Discussions of Brachycentridae
Grannoms 11 Replies »
First, an introduction. I am 15 years old and live in Northwestern Pa. I have been reading the forums for quite a few years now, as they have helped me expand my knowledge.
I am interested in learning as much as possible about the grannom caddis. I would appreciate any information that you could offer about them, along with possible patterns and life cycle information. Thank you in advance.
Mike
Replygrannom caddis 38 Replies »I am interested in learning as much as possible about the grannom caddis. I would appreciate any information that you could offer about them, along with possible patterns and life cycle information. Thank you in advance.
Mike
Posted by Goose on Sep 26, 2006 in the genus Brachycentrus
Last reply on Mar 23, 2008 by Andyg
Hi All! I was reading through the site and I happened upon the Grannom (Apple) Caddis page, which made me wonder. Here in PA it is called The Mother's Day Caddis, I believe. Adults, which trout rarely feed on, are imitated with black or peacock herl bodies. The pupa, or emrgers I guess, we imitate with a wet fly. It has a peacock herl body and brown hackle for the legs, etc. in a size 14. Is this the same Grannon as the apple Grannom? Just curious!
I still get confused by these caddis and I'm trying to narrow down a list of caddis patterns and colors to cover the largest percentage of the hatches throughout the year.
ReplyWhat's happening here? 5 Replies »I still get confused by these caddis and I'm trying to narrow down a list of caddis patterns and colors to cover the largest percentage of the hatches throughout the year.
Posted by Troutnut on Jun 6, 2007 in the genus Brachycentrus
Last reply on Jun 6, 2007 by Troutnut
Check out the two streamside pictures on my Brachycentrus page. I found these clusters of dead grannoms in a few different spots along a Catskill river on May 12th, while many members of (seemingly) the same species were in the air laying eggs and occasionally falling spent and being eaten by trout.
Have you ever seen these clusters? What's the explanation?
ReplyHave you ever seen these clusters? What's the explanation?
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