I have effectively found information on all of the species of Caddisfly that the hatch chart from Lanesboro, MN describes. Now the question is how to present the information in a logical fashion, with the Mayflies I broke things down first by one of the four nymphal groups and then from earliest to latest in reference to potential emergence dates. Caddisflies are posing more of a challenge in that there are so many species that for my purposes I will be listing them starting with the earliest in emergence dates and ending with the latest.
These first three represent the winter/spring emergence, February-Mid May. These should be fairly easy to distinguish on the water, only the last two have coinciding dates and are different in size and color.
Medium Evening Sedge: (Dolophilodes distinctus) 12-16
- Adult Length up to 12mm
- Wing: Gray-Brown
- Body: Brown
- Legs: Brown
- February emergence
From the family Philopotamidae these are net spinning caddis larva living on the undersides of rocks. They spin a net to filter food from the water. Pupa swim or crawl to the banks or surface to emerge and the females dive underwater to deposit eggs. Specifically D. Distinctus has a unique trait in that they will produce wingless females in the winter that are noticed running along the snowy banks. These are going to be found in cleaner cooler well oxygenated water and perhaps less found on a larger warmer stream. Larva look like most free living caddis, like a green/olive worm with a black/brown head with six legs. Color for the larva is going to be harder to determine due to the variety in habitat thus finding them in the wild is important.
Summer Flier Sedge: (Limnephilus submonifer) 10-12
- 13-15mm Average Adult Length up to 20mm
- Wing: Ginger-Reddish Brown
- Body: Ginger-Brown
- Legs: Ginger-Brown
- April-May Emergence
This species of caddis fly is from the Limnephilidae super family that encompasses tube-makers of which there are many, over 56 different genus with each genus potentially having several species. L. Submonilifer are going to be found in much slower water sections, LaFontaine says he found these most in ponds in New Hampshire in much slower water, something to keep in mind. This specific specie builds a stick case in which to live, different from a spun net tube or rock tube.
Little Sister Sedge: (Cheumatopsyche pasella) 14-16
- Adult length up to 10mm
- Wing: Brown-Dark Brown
- Body: Green to Greenish Brown
- Legs: Light-Dark Brown
- Very Short Emergence Early May
Coming from the Hydropsychidae family of net-spinners this is a free living caddis larva. The information I’ve found indicate that the Cheumatopsyche is closely related to the Hydropsyche the main difference is size. The Little Sister Sedge is smaller than its cousin. These specific larva and subsequently adults will be more likely found further downstream in warmer water with higher sediment and algae content.
This information may be flawed or incorrect, I am not an entomologist, however sometimes I wonder why not? I’m sure there are bugs I wouldn’t like. If you think something is incorrect please let me know.