Black Sedge vs Blue Quill

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Sedge Blue Quill
Scientific Name Silo nigricornis Paraleptophlebia guttata
Order Trichoptera Ephemeroptera
Family Goeridae Leptophlebiidae
Size 7-9 mm body 6-9 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black Sedge

A caddisfly whose larvae build heavy cases from sand grains cemented with silk. Found in clean, stony streams. Cases have lateral flanges of larger stones for ballast.

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Did You Know?

Larval cases have added flanges of larger stones that act as ballast, preventing the case from being swept away.

Blue Quill

A delicate spring-emerging mayfly with bluish-gray body coloring. Nymphs prefer riffles with abundant leaf detritus in clean streams.

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Did You Know?

Anglers consider it one of the most important early-season hatches on trout streams.