Inchworms

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Scientific Name

Match	Scientific Name
	Geometridae

This common name refers to only one family.

Moth Family Geometridae

These are pretty much always called Inchworms.

These terrestrial (Terrestrial: Insects which live on land and are fed on by trout only when they incidentally fall into the water are known as "terrestrials" to fly anglers, and they're very important in late summer.) moths are sometimes taken by trout when their larvae, the well-known inchworms, dangle by their little silken threads in especially high numbers around June. They may be abundant enough throughout the forest that plenty dangle their way into the water.

Geometridae (Inchworms) Moth Larva

View 6 PicturesI caught this inchworm lowering itself to the surface of a trout stream from its silk thread. I saw a couple others floating on the surface, so it's likely the trout were familiar with them.

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

Jargon Defined:

Larvae: Many classes of aquatic insects, such as caddisflies, midges, craneflies, dobsonflies, alderflies, and many more, are known as "larvae" rather than "nymphs" in their juvenile stages. They have mostly soft bodies rather than hard exoskeletons. These insects also advance through a "pupa" stage before reaching adulthood.

Terrestrial: Insects which live on land and are fed on by trout only when they incidentally fall into the water are known as "terrestrials" to fly anglers, and they're very important in late summer.