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Billq | August 2nd, 2009, 6:00 pm | |
Shillington, Pa Posts: 2 | Hello, I am new to the entomology of aquatic insects. I do enjoy spending time on this site learning about the things I am fishing with. I am confused by the terms used for nymph and larvae. It seems people use the words interchangeably as if they are the same thing. Is this the case? If you take a look at http://www.flyfishingnc.com/fly-bugs/entomology/caddisfly-entomology they show a yellow caddis larvae and the little green rock worm they call a caddis nymph. Thank you for your help. bill | |
Creno | August 2nd, 2009, 7:22 pm | |
Grants Pass, OR Posts: 305 | in general, entomologists in the US use nymph for the non-egg immature stages of hemimetabolous insects. Larvae are the feeding, non-egg immature stages of holometabolous. Stoneflies have eggs, nymphs, and adults (hemimetabolous). Caddisflies have eggs, larvae, pupae and adults (holometabolous). You will still see them both used inconsistently in the fishing literature. And you will often see larva used by entomologists for immature hemimetabolous insects in other countries. | |
Shawnny3 | August 6th, 2009, 7:46 am | |
Moderator Pleasant Gap, PAPosts: 1197 | I'm certainly no entomologist, but the distinction easiest for me to remember between these is that the insects that go through a larval stage undergo complete metamorphosis in becoming adults, and those that go through a nymphal stage undergo incomplete metamorphosis. As a fisherman this means to me that nymphs generally look like the adults of that species, whereas larva look way different from the corresponding adults. Even more crudely speaking, the more insect-looking ones are nymphs and the more wormy looking ones are larva. I'm sure there are lots of entomological shortcomings in my assessment, but that's how I think of them from a flyfishing standpoint. -Shawn | |
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis www.davisflydesigns.com | ||
Martinlf | August 6th, 2009, 6:57 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | So, Shawn, most of my nymph imitations are actually larvae imitations. :) | |
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
Creno | August 6th, 2009, 8:58 pm | |
Grants Pass, OR Posts: 305 | And all my flies look like worms :) | |
Billq | August 12th, 2009, 6:35 am | |
Shillington, Pa Posts: 2 | thank you so much for your replies. bill | |
Cassias | October 30th, 2018, 3:29 pm | |
Posts: 1 | wow this was a long time ago do you know what fortnite is? | |
Wbranch | November 5th, 2018, 8:42 am | |
York & Starlight PA Posts: 2733 | do you know what fortnite is? Yes, I know what it is, why did you ask? | |
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years. | ||
Title | Replies | Last Reply |
Re: Caddis larvae vs Mayfly nymph:whats the major difference? In General Discussion by Adirman | 6 | Apr 17, 2013 by Sayfu |
Re: please help.what larvae is this In the Identify This! Board by Alvin | 2 | Apr 7, 2012 by Crepuscular |
Re: Photo Request In General Discussion by Feathers5 | 4 | Mar 14, 2013 by Lastchance |
Re: trying to figure out In the Insect Family Corydalidae by Buggy | 1 | Apr 19, 2009 by GONZO |
Re: Spatsizi In General Discussion by Spatsizi | 1 | Sep 15, 2006 by Troutnut |
Re: ID these two? (be cautious) In the Identify This! Board by PaulRoberts | 4 | Apr 27, 2012 by Creno |
Re: 10 best Trout flies In General Discussion by Bluefin | 8 | Feb 25, 2009 by Hackleton |
Re: Stonefly? In the Identify This! Board by Agresens | 2 | Feb 21, 2019 by Creno |
Re: Blue Wing Yellows In Female Baetis Mayfly Dun by Martinlf | 6 | Dec 19, 2008 by Martinlf |
Re: I'm back In General Discussion by Wbranch | 6 | Apr 2, 2022 by Oldredbarn |