Cream Midge Pupa

The Cream Midge Papa looks almost like the larva with a thick thorax that contains the wings of the developing midge. The wings and the legs are contained in the hardened capsule-like case, named the puparium. As the Cream Midge Pupa begins to emerge, the wings become larger and more important. The mature Cream Midge Pupa rises to the water’s surface aided by air sacks within their wings that provide the buoyancy necessary to get them to the surface. However, the air sacks are somewhat of a problem since the air makes a mirror like, silvery flash that attract the trout.

However, since the pupae are very small, the surface tension becomes a barrier for them and they hang suspended just below the surface. That is where they are most vulnerable to the trout and the trout take them just below the surface along with the cripples that just did not emerge right.

Also, since they are hanging below the surface for long periods of time, the current will carry them downstream into the backeddies and the current seams. They can also be found in the slower or flatter runs and even on occasion in the fast water.

Since there are often more than one species of midges hatching at any given time, anglers must pay attention to the size, color and stage of the life cycle of the midges to be effective. The color of the pupae is very different than the color of the larvae and the adults are still a different color from either the pupae or the larvae. For more about the life cycles of midges please see "Midges are a Staple in the Diet of Trout".