Hellgrammites

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Scientific Name

Match	Scientific Name
	Corydalidae

Hellgrammites are the fearsome predatory larvae of the dobsonflies. Unlike mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies, their life cycle does not include specific points of vulnerability, but the larvae end up in the drift often enough to be important to trout. (Note: Some would say that technically only larvae of the Corydalus genus are hellgrammites, but anglers widely use the term for all larvae in the family.)

This common name refers to only one family.

Insect Family Corydalidae

These are often called Hellgrammites.

Hellgrammites are the vicious larvae of the Dobsonflies, some of the only trout stream insects which pose a biting threat to the angler. The pincers of the adult are even more frightening that the larva's, and they're aggressive enough to use them once in a while.

This family's life cycle does not create good dry fly opportunities, but the larvae may be eaten by trout year-round. They are a secret told only by stomach samples of well-fed trout.

Corydalus (Dobsonflies) Hellgrammite Larva

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Collected May 29, 2007 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on June 4, 2007

Male Nigronia serricornis (Fishfly) Hellgrammite Adult

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Collected May 29, 2007 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on June 4, 2007

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Hellgrammites

Insect Family Corydalidae

Jargon Defined: