Caddisfly Family Leptoceridae
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
» Family Leptoceridae
| Genus in Leptoceridae |  |  |
| CeracleaScaly-Wing Sedges | 0 | 0 |
| Leptocerus | 0 | 0 |
| MystacidesBlack Dancers | 3 | 17 |
| NectopsycheWhite Millers | 0 | 3 |
| OecetisLong Horn Sedges | 0 | 0 |
| Triaenodes | 1 | 4 |
2 genera aren't included.
Hatching Behavior
Time Of Day (?): Usually afternoon or evening, except for Mystacides (morning) and Nectopsyche (nighttime)
The pupae emerge on the surface.Egg-Laying Behavior
Females may 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 or dive to the bottom, depending on the species.Larva & Pupa Biology
Diet: Wide variety, depending on species: may be insects, sponges, detritus (Detritus: Small, loose pieces of decaying organic matter underwater.).Shelter Type: Cases of various debris, or just silk
Leptoceridae Fly Fishing Tips
The females of this family are smaller than the males, so imitations of egg-layers should approximate the smaller adults.4 Caddisfly Specimens in the Family Leptoceridae:
Mystacides sepulchralis (Black Dancer) Caddisfly Adult
View 10 PicturesThis was one of many of its species which were gathered in small, low-flying swarms of about a dozen insects near the alder trees in the afternoon on a small stream.
View 10 PicturesThis was one of many of its species which were gathered in small, low-flying swarms of about a dozen insects near the alder trees in the afternoon on a small stream.Region: Northeast
Collected Aug 22, 2006
Added Aug 24, 2006
Triaenodes Caddisfly Adult
View 4 Pictures
View 4 PicturesRegion: Upper Midwest
Collected Aug 7, 2004
Added Jan 25, 2006
Mystacides sepulchralis (Black Dancer) Caddisfly Adult
View 4 Pictures
View 4 PicturesRegion: Catskills
Collected Sep 5, 2006
Added Oct 3, 2006
3 Streamside Pictures of Leptoceridae Caddisflies:
View Full Size
These caddisflies were thick over the water in the evening on a cold, clear northwoods lake. They were in many places on the lake, all closer to the shady shore, which also was the shore most sheltered from the wind. I'm not sure which of those features attracted them.
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Nectopsyche (White Millers).
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Nectopsyche (White Millers).
Recent Discussions of Leptoceridae
Does anyone have success fishing this hatch? 5 Replies »
Posted by Troutnut on Sep 24, 2006 in the genus Mystacides
Last reply on Jul 7, 2007 by Reify
I've been extremely frustrated several times by trout feeding on Black Dancers, especially on the Brule in Wisconsin. The flies gather in little swarms beneath overhanging alders along the bank, usually within a foot or two of the surface, and "dance" around. A trout or two, usually small, will appear below them and rise steadily.
This is one of the most reliable insect activities on that river in the summer. It's quite unlike any other hatch, since it never affects most of the stream. Instead, there are just little pockets of activity here and there along the bank. It would be interesting to see if some of the trout are Mystacides "specialists" who are conditioned to cruise the banks looking for this food source.
At any rate, I've never had much luck catching these trout. I've tried most often on the Brule but I've run across similar situations on Finger Lakes and Catskill rivers in New York, too. Has anyone cracked the code?
ReplyThis is one of the most reliable insect activities on that river in the summer. It's quite unlike any other hatch, since it never affects most of the stream. Instead, there are just little pockets of activity here and there along the bank. It would be interesting to see if some of the trout are Mystacides "specialists" who are conditioned to cruise the banks looking for this food source.
At any rate, I've never had much luck catching these trout. I've tried most often on the Brule but I've run across similar situations on Finger Lakes and Catskill rivers in New York, too. Has anyone cracked the code?
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