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Caddisfly Family Hydropsychidae

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Taxonomic Navigation -?-

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

» Class Insecta (Insects)

» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)

» Family Hydropsychidae

Genus in Hydropsychidae
ArctopsycheGreat Gray Spotted Sedges	1	14
CeratopsycheSpotted Sedges	0	0
CheumatopsycheLittle Sister Sedges	6	40
HydropsycheSpotted Sedges	11	81
MacrostemumGlossy Wing Sedges	0	0
Parapsyche	0	0
Potamyia	0	0

5 genera aren't included.

Pictures Below ↓

This is the most important caddisfly family for anglers. They are extremely abundant in trout streams and their life cycle specifics make them very vulnerable to trout.

Hydropsyche is the best-known and most important genus in the family but Cheumatopsyche has some significant hatches as well.

Two species of note from the other genera are Potamyia flava, a relatively unimportant Southern species, and Macrostemum zebratum, the important species commonly known as the "Zebra Caddis."

Hatching Behavior

Before emerging, Hydropsychidae pupae drift along the bottom or just under the surface for an unusually long time, from a few minutes to a few hours. They then take an unusualy long time struggling out through the film. Both of these tendencies make them more ideal for the angler.

Egg-Laying Behavior

Gary LaFontaine writes in Caddisflies that Hydropsychidae females dive to lay their eggs on the river bottom. When they're done, instead of swimming back to the surface quickly, they dead-drift (Dead-drift: The manner in which a fly drifts on the water when not moving by itself or by the influence of a line. Trout often prefer dead-drifting prey and imitating the dead-drift in tricky currents is a major challenge of fly fishing.) and float up. This makes them exceptionally vulnerable to trout.

Swisher and Richards in Selective Trout say that some species oviposit by flying low over the surface and dipping their abdomens slightly into the water repeatedly lay eggs. I'm inclined to believe Swisher and Richards about the variation, and to assume that the behavior LaFontaine described is by far the more common of the two.

Larva & Pupa Biology

Diet: Microorganisms filtered by their nets

Current Speed: Medium to fast

Shelter Type: Nets instead of cases; may build shelters near nets

Hydropsychidae is the main family of net-spinning caddisflies. Instead of building cases to live in, they build small silk nets (usually between 0.5cm and 2cm across) over crevices in rocks and logs. The current brings their microscopic prey into these traps. One larva may build and tend to more than one net.

Many larvae of Hydropsyche (and perhaps the others, though I have not

confirmed it) secrete a white line of silk, anchored to a rock on one end. They use it to rappel between rocks in the current, just as spiders or inchworms may use their silk to move around a tree. LaFontaine popularized the trick of whitening the last foot and a half of one's leader to imitate this anchor line, noting that it improved his success and made the larvae "almost as worthwhile as the pupae and adults."

On page 231 of Caddisflies, Lafontaine presents a very interesting chart relating the abundance and net mesh size of each Hydropsychidae genus to different habitat factors like river size and water temperature. Rather than try to summarize it here I will recommend that you buy the book.

Hydropsychidae Fly Fishing Tips

Because they are so common, imitations of this family perform very well as searching patterns (Searching pattern: Any artificial fly pattern used when trout that aren't feeding selectively on anything in particular. A searching pattern may be an attractor or an imitation of something specific that the fish might favor even though it's not currently hatching.). Most of the fashionable "Czech Nymphs" imitate Hydropsychidae larvae, as do Cinnamon Caddis dry flies, which perform very well according to a 1998 study in the British Medical Journal, paraphrased again in that journal and quoted here:

Many doctors fish for trout, but there have been endless arguments over the best choice of fly. To extend evidence based practice from their professional into their leisure hours (where it might conceivably be more useful) Britton et al ( p 1678) carried out a randomised trial of five different dry flies (artificial floating flies) on the River Kennet in Berkshire. Before the trial the investigators had most confidence in the Grey Wulff and least in the Cinnamon Sedge. In the trial the Cinnamon Sedge caught the most trout and also seemed to be significantly favoured by brown as opposed to rainbow trout. These findings are of biological as well as practical importance, but the trial was small and the authors press the urgent need for much more research.

Clearly more research is necessary to settle the issue convincingly. As the authors of the study point out,

None of the investigators has any intention of taking the slightest notice of the results of this study.

I vow to fish as much as possible until the question of which dry fly is best has been firmly resolved to the agreement of all.

Pictures of 28 Caddisfly Specimens in the Family Hydropsychidae:

Specimen Page:12 3 4

Hydropsyche aenigma (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult

View 18 PicturesThese big caddisflies were tempting trout as they wriggled out of their shucks (

View Full Size

Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.

Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.), while others skated across the water at a medium pace, probably egg-laying.

Collected May 15, 2007 from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedges) Caddisfly Pupa

View 10 PicturesThis is the first fully formed caddis pupa (technically, a pharate adult (Pharate adult: Caddisflies are considered to be pupae during their transformation from larva into adult. This transformation is complete before they're ready to emerge. The emerging insect we imitate with the "pupa" patterns we tie is technically called a pharate adult. It is a fully-formed adult caddisfly with one extra layer of exoskeleton surrounding it and restricting its wings.)) that I've collected and photographed alive and healthy. I'll put a video of this specimen online soon, too.

Collected April 14, 2007 from Cayuta Creek in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 22, 2007

Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedges) Caddisfly Pupa

View 8 PicturesSeveral users have interesting comments in the discussion of this specimen, but this observation by Creno is especially good:

Also, this is what I would call an "immature" pupa. The wingpads of caddis pupae darken to nearly black as the enclosed adults near emerging. The darkening is the developing adult wing inside the pupal wing pad (

The wing pads on this final instar Baetidae mayfly nymph are extremely dark.
Wing pad: A protrusion from the thorax of an insect nymph which holds the developing wings. Black wing pads usually indicate that the nymph is nearly ready to emerge into an adult.). The ultimate coloration of the adult wing is not very apparent in most pupal wing pads (

The wing pads on this final instar Baetidae mayfly nymph are extremely dark.
Wing pad: A protrusion from the thorax of an insect nymph which holds the developing wings. Black wing pads usually indicate that the nymph is nearly ready to emerge into an adult.) as the majority of the adult wing coloration comes from the color/position of the adult wing hairs and setae (Seta: Little hairs on insects.). But dark pupal wingpads are a good indication that the emergence will occur very soon, likely that day or so, and that the adult parts are sufficiently developed within the pupae to make a species determination from the specimen, particularly if it is a male.

Collected May 13, 2007 from the Delaware River in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Specimen Page:12 3 4

1 Underwater Picture of Hydropsychidae Caddisflies:

View Full Size and Comment (2X larger)

These big bucket-like nets on the weeds are home to Hydropsychid caddisflies, as I verified by actually taking one apart to look at its inhabitant.

In this picture: Caddisfly Family Hydropsychidae.

StatePennsylvania

Date TakenMay 28, 2007

Date AddedJun 6, 2007

AuthorTroutnut

CameraPENTAX Optio WPi

Recent Discussions of Hydropsychidae

Correct hatch time of year Hydropsyche slossonae? 10 Replies »

Posted by AndyV on Aug 26, 2022 in the species Hydropsyche slossonae

Last reply on Oct 11, 2022 by AndyV

I've seen hatch charts (e.g. DNR hatch chart for SE MN) stating mid-May til the end of July vs June (from this site). Can anyone confirm?

Reply Arctopsyche grandis in waterton canyon 1 Reply »

Posted by Krikut on May 16, 2016 in the species Arctopsyche grandis

Last reply on May 17, 2016 by Bnorikane

Discovered one of these guys or (gals?) back on March 20 of this year up in Waterton Canyon. He was so chunky I first thought it was a small hellgrammite (I grew up in Virginia, where the hellgrammite was the bug of choice in most smallmouth rivers). This particular one measured about half an inch and had a bright green tail/foot segment. I'm curious if you guys have a favorite immitation? Thanks!

Reply Arctopsyche Grandis 6 Replies »

Posted by Epeorus on Jul 2, 2014 in the genus Arctopsyche

Last reply on Jul 6, 2014 by Entoman

A while ago there was some discussion of this bug in Colorado. I first came across this beast in early July 2011 on the Eagle River, just downstream of Edwards, Co. Met him again this week on the Eagle. It's quite the blast - big bugs and big trout. Especially the ones rising with abandon in the fast water in the middle of the day.

Funny thing is we don't seem to see these guys most years. The commonality between 2011 and this year is an extended runoff leading to cold and high - though clear water in early July. I wonder if they normally hatch during the peak of the runoff when no one is on the water.

I remember people commenting about these caddis allegedly being in parts of Colorado. The hatches the last two days on the Eagle and what I saw in 2011 would add some level of credence to that belief.

A size 10 (on a Partridge L3A) sponge body caddis with a dark gray body, and a size 10 Lafontaine sparkle emerger with a gray body and a clear shroud were the ticket.

Reply Arctopsyche grandis 6 Replies »

Posted by Flymonster on Sep 8, 2011 in the species Arctopsyche grandis

Last reply on May 20, 2013 by Flymonster

Here in the Willamette Valley the McKenzie Caddis (as Arctopsyche grandis is known locally) usually begins its emergence sometime around mid-May and can continue into mid-June. The most emergence activity will be noted on warm days once the water temperature reaches @ 52f. Most hatches occur on warm sunny days from 4pm-7pm. Arlen Thomason goes into great detail about the life-cycle and behaviors of a. grandis in his book "Bug Water".

At least for me, the McKenzie Caddis, marks the beginning of summer and excellent fly fishing for trout on the McKenzie, Middle Fork Willamette, North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette, and our other local rivers and streams.

Reply What flies to imitate 12 Replies »

Posted by Goose on Sep 19, 2006 in the genus Ceratopsyche

Last reply on Mar 21, 2010 by Martinlf

Jason: What species', in common angler language, are represented in this genus? I'm trying to determine which ones I should spend my time on imitating them. Are they October Caddis, Grannom Caddis, etc. Are those afore mentioned sedges? I would like to know the names so I can tie them the correct size and colors. Just trying to learn. Thanks

There is 1 more topic.

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Jargon Defined:

Abdomens: The rear and usually the longest (ten-segmented in mayflies) portion of an insect's body, to which the tails are attached.

Dead-drift: The manner in which a fly drifts on the water when not moving by itself or by the influence of a line. Trout often prefer dead-drifting prey and imitating the dead-drift in tricky currents is a major challenge of fly fishing.

Emergence: The transformation of a nymph or pupa into the adult winged stage of an insect. The term may refer to the emergence of an individual, or the daily or yearly event in which all individuals of a species emerge.

Larva: 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.

Nymphs: The juvenile, underwater stages of mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, and damselflies and other aquatic insects whose juvenile stages are covered by hard exoskeletons. The word can also refer to the fishing flies which imitate these creatures, in which case it is used as a blanket term for flies imitating any underwater stage of an invertebrate (except for crayfish and leeches).

Oviposit: To lay eggs.

Pharate adult: Caddisflies are considered to be pupae during their transformation from larva into adult. This transformation is complete before they're ready to emerge. The emerging insect we imitate with the "pupa" patterns we tie is technically called a pharate adult. It is a fully-formed adult caddisfly with one extra layer of exoskeleton surrounding it and restricting its wings.

Pupae: Any insect which spends most of its juvenile lifetime as a larva first becomes a pupa for a time before emerging as a fully grown adult. Depending on the species, the pupal form can be very important for fly fishermen to imitate.

Searching patterns: Any artificial fly pattern used when trout that aren't feeding selectively on anything in particular. A searching pattern may be an attractor or an imitation of something specific that the fish might favor even though it's not currently hatching.

Setae: Little hairs on insects.

View Full Size

Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.

Shucks: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.

The wing pads on this final instar Baetidae mayfly nymph are extremely dark.

Wing pad: A protrusion from the thorax of an insect nymph which holds the developing wings. Black wing pads usually indicate that the nymph is nearly ready to emerge into an adult.

Useful References:

LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.

Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.