Why do we need this? To the best of our knowledge, this is the first occurrence of swede midge in Pennsylvania. Entomologists working in infested areas have done a great job pulling together a Swede Midge Information Center and all the information in this article comes from those sources. According to Penn State Extension, swede midge overwinter as pupae and emerge in the spring. Miracle Midge. Resources for identifying swede midge and tips for best practices in their management are available through Penn State Extension. Midge larvae represent more that 50% of a trout’s diet and that increases during the winter months. A synthesis of biology, ecology, and management, with a focus on organic growers. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, this pest was confirmed in New York about 20 years ago and has spread to additional states and Canada. Midge pupae patterns incorporate fur dubbing, peacock hurl and a host of other materials to simulate the enlarged thorax area as Aaron has done in the second and third variations of the Zebra midge shown in the fly tying video above. By Kirk Deeter. This midge belongs to a group of insects that are known to be host-plant specialists, often causing galls or other induced plant growth patterns. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. "I developed my Jujubee Midge over twenty years ago when I was guiding on the South Platte River. To paraphrase the late great Mitch Hedburg, midges are like rice: they’re great if you’re hungry and want to eat a thousand of something. For 25 years he has scoured the limestone streams of central Pennsylvania, gathering and cataloging specimens, studying them under the microscope, and creating patterns to match every nuance of color, structure, and size. "There has been a tendency for this pest to be more of a problem on smaller, diversified farms, and organic farms," the researchers said. She married Donald Eakin on November 4, 1960. Entomologists in Bradford County have confirmed the first official case of a new invasive species in Pennsylvania, a tiny insect known as the swede midge. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Midges. Hook: Daiichi 1130, TMC 2487 #14 – 20. There is just something about the color red and midge patterns that the fish seem to love. The CDC wing makes this pattern easy to see on the surface. No, its a buckskin! Fly Fishing Flies, Trout flies, Midge patterns, Hand-tied flies, "Shaggy Chris-Midge Emerger" (Set of 3) FlyFishingExtras. Swede midge may be more widespread in Pennsylvania, but damage misdiagnosed, or it may exist in weeds or crops that are planted at higher densities, such as Brassica cover crops. Midge Patterns and Chironomids. Required fields are marked * Comment. There has been a tendency for this pest to be more of a problem on smaller, diversified farms, and organic farms. Name * Email * Website. An effective midge pattern for technical tailwaters and spring creeks with just enough ''''bling'''' to fool the wariest of trout. Thread midges and the like are productive patterns in Cheesman Canyon, but I needed an edge for these ultra-selective fish. " Swede midge larvae break down plant tissue creating a very moist environment – you will see the moisture in an infected tip compared to a healthy one. Adding a trailing shuck to this pattern works well for imitating emerging blue-winged olives. Notes: This pattern was invented by my son Forrest Dorsey. Secondary soft rot infections can also occur. Another invasive species, the swede midge, has made its way to Pennsylvania. We discovered swede midge by responding to a farmer's problem in broccoli on July 16, 2020, in Bradford County. The midges are small (think the size of spotted wing drosophila larvae—you will want a hand lens when searching for them) and can be hard to identify. Symptoms include scarring at the growing point resulting in a 'blind head', leaf puckering, multiple shoots and growing points, many small heads, brown corky scarring, swollen flower buds/florets or leaves, and other plant growth distortions. Chironomids can represent a significant portion of the trout's diet in stillwater. Hatch charts and extensive catalog of patterns. © 2021 WWB Holdings, LLC. Multiple kaolin clay applications may be among the most effective organic spray options. Their larval feeding induces changes in plant physiology. Some fly pattern sheets have pictures of real bugs to help “match the hatch”. The Best Midge-Cluster Fly Patterns for Winter Trout. At this time, current evidence suggests swede midge may still be rare in Pennsylvania, and thus the best management tactic is developing skilled systems of early detection. The discovery was made when researchers from Penn State Extension responded to a complaint from a broccoli farmer on July 16. Whether or not there are actually “blood midge” in the water, the fly pattern, the blood midge larva, is a great pattern for imitating the larval form of the midge throughout the winter. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. My top 2 recommended dry midge patterns are actually attractor patterns called the Griffith’s Gnat and Gray Ugly. Peel back leaves of the suspect growing tip and look for larvae. From shop FirstResponseFlies. No one has studied midges more intently than Don Holbrook. 5 out … Management is tied to their ecology. The Zebra Midge, Disco Midge, and their many cousins are little more than a bit of something shiny wrapped up the shank of a hook with a patch of ostrich herl or a bead to represent the gills. Fly anglers have a love/hate relationship with midges however, and here are a few tips to ensure you stay on the love side of things and have successful fishing in these last weeks until the weather breaks! Image: Cornell University. Don’t let the easy design fool you. She graduated from AC Valley High School. Bling Midge . Image: Cornell University. Your email address will not be published. Get your bling on!!! September 29, 2014 3264 × 2448 Fly Fishing Patterns for the Fall Season in Pennsylvania. View our privacy policy. Thread: 8/0 or 70 denier black or olive. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Larvae feed for 1 to 3 weeks, then jump to the ground, and pupate in the upper half-inch of soil. Add to cart. 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