Caddisfly Genus Mystacides (Black Dancers)
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
» Family Leptoceridae
» Genus Mystacides (Black Dancers)
| Species in Mystacides |  |  |
| Mystacides alafimbriataBlack Wing Long-Horned Sedge | 0 | 0 |
| Mystacides interjectaBlack Dancer | 0 | 0 |
| Mystacides sepulchralisBlack Dancer | 3 | 17 |
Common Name
| Match | Common Name |
 | Black Dancers |
Where & When
This genus is represented across the continent, but the Western species Mystacides alafimbriata is probably the most prominent.Hatching Behavior
Time Of Day (?): Morning
Black Dancers emerge by crawling out onto rocks or other protruding objects, so emergence is not terribly important.Egg-Laying Behavior
Time Of Day: Dusk
The females dive to lay their eggs on the bottom.Larva & Pupa Biology
3 Caddisfly Specimens in the Genus Mystacides:
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
Mystacides sepulchralis (Black Dancer) Caddisfly Adult
View 4 Pictures
View 4 PicturesRegion: Catskills
Collected Sep 5, 2006
Added Oct 3, 2006
Mystacides sepulchralis (Black Dancer) Caddisfly Adult
View 3 PicturesI captured this small caddisfly from one of many dense mating swarms under overhanging alder trees in a slow stretch of the river. There were localized rises of trout under the swarms.
View 3 PicturesI captured this small caddisfly from one of many dense mating swarms under overhanging alder trees in a slow stretch of the river. There were localized rises of trout under the swarms.Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jul 29, 2004
Added Jan 25, 2006
Recent Discussions of Mystacides
Does anyone have success fishing this hatch? 5 Replies »
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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