TROUT UNLIMITED INDIAN HOLLOW GATHERING
2014 AQUATIC INSECTS COLLECTION EVENT
May 17, 2014
Compiled by Mike Cole (mikebcole@comcast.net)
On May 17th, 2014, a workshop was held at the MA/RI TU Council gathering to introduce anglers to the River’s
Calendar project. The workshop included streamside collection of adult aquatic insects and sampling of the East
Branch Westfield River’s bottom for nymphs and larvae. The following list was assembled from the aquatic insects
collected and identified during the event. Observations in bold are those of adult aquatic insects caught either in
the air or on stream-side vegetation. Photographs of select aquatic insects are included on the following pages of
this document (indicated by an asterisk in table).
List of aquatic insects collected at the River’s Calendar Workshop on May 17th, 2014
Scientific Name
Anthopotamus distinctus*
Baetisca sp.*
Brachycentrus sp.*
Cheumatopsyche
Cinygmula subaequalis*
Drunella cornuta/cornutella*
Drunella walkeri
Epeorus vitreus*
Ephemera varia*
Ephemerella invaria*
Eurylophella funeralis
Haploperla brevis
Hydropsyche bronta*
Isonychia bicolor
Lepidostoma sp.
Maccaffertium modestum
Maccaffertium vicarium*
Ophiogomphus sp.*
Paragnetina media
Paraleptophlebia sp.
Penelomax septentrionalis*
Perlodidae
Prostoia completa*
Pycnopsyche guttifer*
Stenacron interpunctatum*
Strophopteryx fasciata*
Common Name
Golden Drake
Armored Mayfly
Grannom/Apple Caddis
Little Sister Sedge
Dark Red Quill
Blue-Winged Olive
Blue-Winged Olive
Sulphur/Orange Sulphur
Yellow Drake
Sulphur
Chocolate Dun
Sallfly/Yellow Sally
Spotted Sedge
Slate Drake/White Gloved Howdy
Little Brown Sedge
Light Cahill
March Brown
Snaketail
Golden Stonefly
Blue Quill
Spring Fly/Yellow Stone
Tiny Winter Black Stone
Great Autumn Sedge
Light Cahill
Early Brown Stonefly
Life Stage
Nymph
Nymph
Adults
Larva
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph/Dun
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph
Larva
Nymph
Larva
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph
Adults
Adults
Larva
Nymph
Adults
Collection
Method
Kick
Kick
Aerial
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick/Aerial
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Kick
Aerial
Aerial
Kick
Kick
Aerial
Stylogomphus ambistylus*
Least Clubtail
Nymph
Kick
Golden Drake nymph (Anthopotamus distinctus): Moderate numbers of these nymphs occurred in the
kick samples (Ephemera varia nymph, below the A. distinctus, also in photo)
Armored mayfly (Baetisca sp.): Moderate numbers of these nymphs were collected in the kick samples.
Grannom (Brachycentrus sp.): This was the most common streamside adult insect (among the EPTs)
during the May 17th event. Females were conspicuously lighter than the males, while both sexes were
about a size #18.
Dark Red Quill (Cinygmula subaequalis): This species was one of the most abundant in the kick samples.
None yet looked to be mature (as evidenced by a lack of well-developed wing pads), so emergence is
likely still at least several weeks or more away. To color forms occurred in the kick samples: the
black/yellow banded form as above and an unbanded light tannish yellow form.
Blue Winged Olive (Drunella cornuta/cornutella): This species was not very common in the kick samples.
Known as the Blue Winged Olive (BWO), it’s typically larger than the Baetis species BWOs.
Yellow Drake (Ephemera varia); Several specimens of this species occurred in the kick samples. As
burrowers, this nymph prefers slower water and a sand bottom.
Sulphur/Orange Sulphur (Epeorus vitreus): Only a few specimens of this species were collected in kick
samples. One female dun E. vitreus was also collected during the event (no photo).
Sulphur (Ephemerella invaria): Only a few individuals of this species were collected in the kick samples.
These specimens were close to fully mature, indicating the near arrival of the Sulphur to the East
Branch.
Spotted Sedge (Hydropsyche bronta): Identified by the yellow banding on the head, this net-spinning
caddisfly species occurred in modest numbers in the kick samples.
March Brown (Maccaffertium vicarium): This larger mayfly was common in the kick samples, and many
specimens were mature, indicating the approach of the ever popular March Brown hatch. Note the
black bands on the rear margin of each abdominal segment, a character shared only between M.
vicarium and one other, much less common, species.
Snaketail (Ophiogomphus sp.): These larger dragonfly nymphs were fairly common in the kick samples.
Penelomax septentrionalis: This uncommon mayfly belongs to the same family as the popular
Hendricksons and Sulphurs. Only one specimen was collected in the kick samples.
Tiny Winter Black Stone (Prostoia completa): Only one of this small stonefly (approximately size #18/20)
was collected.
Great Autumn Sedge (Pycnopsyche guttifer ): While only a few of this species were collected in kick
samples, this caddisfly is said to be common in the East Branch, often seen crawling about on rocks in
slower-moving areas.
Least Clubtail (Stylogomphus ambistylus): Only one of this dragonfly species was caught in the kick
samples. The adult of this species is also dark, primarily black with yellow banding and striping.
Light Cahill (Stenacron interpunctatum): This mid-summer-hatching mayfly was not obvious in the kick
samples, in part likely because the nymphs are smaller because they’re not yet mature. The adults are a
light orange to creamy yellow.
Early Brown Stone (Strophopteryx fasciata): Only one adult of this stonefly was collected. Larger than
the Tiny Winter Black Stone collected, this stonefly was a #14/16.