Entomology class

[sandfly]

Here are some of the collections from today..march browns:
they still have 2 instars to go before hatching, most were a size 14;

 

[sandfly]

Next is some stone fly's: Perla's;

 

[sandfly]

Hendricksons, still have at least 1 instar before they hatch;
Very dark, almost black with light tails.

 

[sandfly]

Quill Gordons, still have 1 instar too;

 

[Foxgap239]

Bob, how can you tell about the "instars"?

 

[csoult]

What the heck is an instar?

 

[sandfly]

the nymphs after hatching from the eggs go through instars where they shed the exoskeleton as they grow. most may flies go through 5 to 7 of them in the course of their lives. Thats when you can find them in a white state. just like a blue crab does in a way...mmmm soft shell crab sandwich ( sorry no lunch) stone fly's go through it, most of the Perla were small so still have to shed and grow. A lot of the other nymphs were so small didn't even collect any (size 24-28) when fully grown will be (14-20).

 

[csoult]

Does the time lapse of an instar vary depending on species? Or are they similar?

 

[sandfly]

foxgap239---no wing buds yet, to small and not formed completely yet..

 

[Foxgap239]

Bob, Great info and thanks.

 

[sandfly]

csoult----different in the species..and seasons..early season hatches will have gone through a few before winter, while later in the season flies will still be in egg stage or one instar till spring and summer when they will grow..reason to carry flies in different sizes through the season. minnows are the same, right now all adults, then in late spring/summer you see alot more smaller ones then in fall they are large again...and ya all wonder why I carry so many boxes...lol

 

[sandfly]

Paraleptophlebia-adoptiva-Blue-Quill
these are full grown size 14

 

[Foxgap239]

sandfly wrote:
Paraleptophlebia-adoptiva-Blue-Quill
these are full grown size 14

Blue Quills are size 14? I always thought paraleps were size 18

 

[outsider]

Great pics. Wow, the Hendricksons look dark. Caddis pupa pics in the future?

 

[csoult]

Good info sandfly, thanks.

 

[afishinado]

Nice pics Sandy. I would like to use some them for our bug file.

 

[ryguyfi]

There's a small nymph in the last picture of your hendrickson post. Right by the stonefly.


Thanks for this Sandfly. I think most people have some basic knowledge of adults, but nymphs can be very tricky for most. I know I can tell just a few apart, but my knowledge is lacking in this area.

 

[sandfly]

afish, If i post em use em..

ryguy, small immature yellow sally probably 2 instars to go, maybe next years crop hard to tell with them since full grown they are a 14-16..that one would be a size 24 right now, did find some in the 20-18 size too.

 

[flipnfly]

ohh to live near streams with real bugs... .(daydreams... .)

 

[ryguyfi]

flipnfly wrote:
ohh to live near streams with real bugs... .(daydreams... .)

I can find bugs in my local streams. Now fish... that's a different story.