Show Notes
I was thinking about doing this episode having lunch outside one day, and bemoaning the fact that I didn't have any pictures of these guys that I could publish on the blog. At that moment a bibio that landed on the table in front of me. Of course I was too discombobulated to get a picture before it flew off - but I saw that as a good sign to do this episode. But that said, there are plenty of pictures of these guys on the interweb. For example, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=56097&verifiable=any
As you can see, there is a fair bit of diversity, but note the black or black and red color, the long abdomen, the wings held flat over the body, and the dangley legs.
In terms of patterns, one of the old ones I really like is as follows:
Hook: Size 12 or 14 wet fly hook Body: Ostrich herl (or hair from the ear of a black spaniel) Wings: Pale Starling slips (or duck, this is starling, altho I've also seen pigeon) Hackle: Black starling, or hen hackle I would bet a leadwing coachman would also be a great imitation.
Next is an imitation from New Zealand of a Blossom Fly -
Again, pretty straightforward: Hook: 12-14 dry fly Body: Peacock Herl Rib: Black Cock Hackle: Black Cock And this pattern from Malcolm Greenhalgh:
Hook: Dry Fly 12-14 Body: Black Floss Rib: Peacock Herl Wing: Dun hackle tips Hackle: Black cock And this one, which I like because it imitates the dangly legs:
Hook: 12-14 dry fly Body: Black dyed pheasant herl (or goose) Hackle: Black cock Legs: Black dyed pheasant herl tied back. Or you can do the Fore and Aft: Hook: 12-14 dry Hackle: Black cock at hook bend Body: Thread Hackle: Black cock at eye. As you can see, these are all fairly straightforward flies.
More from Angler's Entomology Podcast
A discussion of metamorphosis - focusing on simple metamorphosis as it relates to mayflies, stoneflies, and damsel and dragonflies. And of course rambles about the nature of change. I hope you enjoy.
Hey Everyone, Here are the pictures and patterns that are relevant to Part 1 on of metamorphosis - focusing in incomplete metamorphosis and the critters that do that. (Primarily mayflies, stoneflies and dragon and damselflies). First, though, as promised in the podcast, here is what a silverfish looks like. A little worse for wear - he's (or she) has been pickled for 8 years, so it's lost a lot of its color. Normally, they are a very silver color - hence the name. In some ways you may say this looks a little like a mayfly nymph. In real life, looking at them, you would not mistake them as being different.
Hey everyone. I hope you enjoy today's episode on black quills. I have some nice pics and patterns on the blog, so check that out too. Email me ([email protected]) if you want a guided entomology/fishing trip and get your loot at Selene's Fly Shop.
Hey everyone. Here is my blog post for Episode 54: Pics and Patterns for Black Quills. First let's take a look at the nymph. Here is a nice black quill nymph with a scale in centimeters. It is hard to see, but note the length of the antennae and the nice dark wing cases. That suggests he (or she) is likely to hatch soon. (Well, if he (or she) wasn't pickled in alcohol since 2003). Also fyi, this one was collected in a pond - which make sense, they migrate from moving water to still water to hatch. In contrast, the next specimen was collected in a stream, and you'll note the lack of developed wing pads (noting it was also collected earlier in the season).
Hey folks, hope you all enjoy part 2 of our discussion about how insects reproduce. Lots of wild stuff in this. And check out the blog - I added lots of cool pictures that are relevant to both episode 51 and 53. Enjoy!