Angler's Curse Mayfly vs Microcaddisfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Angler's Curse Mayfly Microcaddisfly
Scientific Name Caenis rivulorum Hydroptila sparsa
Order Ephemeroptera Trichoptera
Family Caenidae Hydroptilidae
Size 3-5 mm 3-4 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Europe Europe, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Angler's Curse Mayfly

A tiny mayfly nicknamed for frustrating anglers who cannot imitate it on hook. Nymphs burrow in fine sediments of slow rivers and streams.

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Did You Know?

At just a few millimeters long, trout feed on them voraciously but anglers struggle to tie flies small enough to match.

Microcaddisfly

One of the smallest caddisflies, with adults only 3-4 mm long. Larvae build tiny purse-shaped cases from silk and algae on submerged rocks.

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Did You Know?

Microcaddisfly larvae build a new case for each instar, and their final pupal case is so small it is barely visible to the naked eye.