Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > Mature nymphs?



Post Reply
EmergerNovember 15th, 2007, 3:27 pm
Posts: 4Need help in recognizing mature stonefly nymphs and caddis pupae. With mayflies you can see it from the wing pads, but what about these two?

Caddis pupae is pretty mature anyway, but how can you tell how far is it from the final transition to an adult?

And what about the stoneflies? This is what I'm really interested. There's not that much information on this subject, except for recognizing mature mayfly nymphs.

E
TroutnutNovember 15th, 2007, 4:04 pm
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2737		Many mature stonefly nymphs show blackened wingpads just like mayflies. Others don't seem to, and I'm not sure how to guess how close they are except for size.

I think fully developed caddis pupae, the kind you find swimming around, are all very close to transitioning into adults.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
KonchuNovember 15th, 2007, 7:56 pm
Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 505		Some of the stonfly nymphs will have plump wingpads, alot thicker than in early instars. Sometimes you'll even see the start of a split in the skin, from where the adult will emerge.
EmergerNovember 16th, 2007, 12:44 am
Posts: 4Thanks guys.

What about if I dig the pupae from its case, can I see how far it is from a certain characterestic, or just from the general appearence?
TaxonNovember 16th, 2007, 11:44 am
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350
What about if I dig the pupae from its case, can I see how far it is from a certain characterestic, or just from the general appearence?


Emerger-

I would suggest removing the case from around a caddisfly, rather than trying to dig the insect from the case, as they are relatively soft-skinned and would tend to squish. Once having done so, you should have no difficulty determining whether the inhabitant is a larval or pupal caddisfly, as only the pupal caddisfly will have visibly developing wings. In as much as the pupal lifestage is so short in duration, determining how close pupae are to emergence might be problematic. However, a clue would be the size (relative to mature pupal length) of the developing wings.

Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
KonchuNovember 16th, 2007, 1:48 pm
Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 505		Is the relative sclerotization of the head capsule indicative at all of pupal age in Trichoptera?
TaxonNovember 16th, 2007, 2:51 pm
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350		Konchu,

I believe caddisfly head capsules to be fully sclerotized in the larval lifestage. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your question.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
KonchuNovember 16th, 2007, 6:46 pm
Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 505		Taxon, yes, the head capsules are sclerotized in the larval stage. I am recalling a very casual "gee whiz" observation made about eight years ago. Now mind you, there's been alot of proverbial water under this bridge since then, and some of it may have been effluent. What I remember is dissecting a pupa one time to find the developing adult inside. Parts, but not all, of the adult head capsule were more hardened than other parts. That recollection led me to think now that this might be an indication of how near the specimen was to emergence. Does this make more sense or not? I could be out to lunch on this one.
TaxonNovember 16th, 2007, 10:23 pm
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350		Konchu,

Haven't dissected a pupa to examine the developing adult. I had assumed you were referring to the exoskeleton of the pupal head capsule. Anyway, thanks for the explanation.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Re: Ochrotrichia tenuata
(2 more)

In the Photography Board by Millcreek		1May 10, 2015
by PaulRoberts
Re: Casemaker Caddis
In General Discussion by Shakeyfly		3Dec 18, 2012
by Risenfly
Re: Live Chimarra pupae
In the Identify This! Board by Millcreek		13Oct 2, 2014
by Millcreek
Re: Agapetus larva and pupa
(8 more)

In the Photography Board by Millcreek		6Jul 7, 2015
by Millcreek
Re: Pupal exuvia pics
In the Photography Board by Creno		7Aug 5, 2012
by PaulRoberts
Re: Hydropsychid?
In Hydropsyche Caddisfly Pupa by GONZO		14May 7, 2009
by LittleJ
Re: Confusing Caddis
In General Discussion by Lastchance		25Oct 15, 2012
by Entoman
Re: Midge Sizes
In General Discussion by Lastchance		7Jan 9, 2009
by DSFlyman
Re: Chimarra larvae and pupae
(10 more)

In the Identify This! Board by Millcreek		8Aug 25, 2014
by Millcreek
Re: Caddis
In Fly Tying by Al514		5Jul 5, 2008
by Jack_k