Craneflies are one of the
most widely distributed organisms on trout streams. In
fact, there are different kinds of craneflies than mayflies,
caddisflies, or stoneflies! Craneflies belong to Diptera or
true flies and have two wings. These insects belong to the
family Tipulidae. These insects undergo complete
metamorphosis which means they have an egg, larva, pupa and
adult.
There are thousands of different species and
they can emerge at many different parts of the season on most
waters. Most fly anglers are familiar with the Early Season
Cranefly which emerges in March on some trout waters and then
an organgish bodied fly that is around size 14 that emerges in
mid April on many Eastern trout streams.
These insects some of which are semi-aquatic
are in a number of sizes from size 16 to size 2 on streams in the larval
state. On some streams when the waters are high
trout will gorge on these flies which resemble "large
grubs." The photo to the right shows typical coloration
and structure of a cranefly larva. The flies can curl up
and go through many gyrations as shown in the video
below.
The adult cranefly once again varies in sizes
and coloration but most are poorly associated with the
larvae. Most adults of the species feed on
nectar a few do not feed at all and just mate
(similar to mayflies). These insects occur in variety of
streams from the tropics to the colder regions of the
world. They are poorly studied and may be much more
important to fly anglers than originally thought. A
typical adult cranefly is shown to the right. Notice that
orangish coloration. Many of these adults have similar
colors to mayflies!
from size 16 to size 2 on streams in the larval
state. On some streams when the waters are high
trout will gorge on these flies which resemble "large
grubs." The photo to the right shows typical coloration
and structure of a cranefly larva. The flies can curl up
and go through many gyrations as shown in the video
below.
nectar a few do not feed at all and just mate
(similar to mayflies). These insects occur in variety of
streams from the tropics to the colder regions of the
world. They are poorly studied and may be much more
important to fly anglers than originally thought. A
typical adult cranefly is shown to the right. Notice that
orangish coloration. Many of these adults have similar
colors to mayflies!