Species Details
Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
SeasonalityAdults can be found from late June to mid-September.
IdentificationThe vertex of the adult head is reddish-brown with dense white and beige hairs. Antennae are brown, with reddish rings. Spur count is 2, 2, 3. Claspers of the males are irregularly shaped, dumb-bell like. Otherwise, the overall shape of the clasper is linear, with the extremities folded mesad.
Scientific Name
Brachycentrus americanus
Habitat
Restricted to running waters.
Seasonality
Adults can be found from late June to mid-September.
Identification
The vertex of the adult head is reddish-brown with dense white and beige hairs. Antennae are brown, with reddish rings. Spur count is 2, 2, 3. Claspers of the males are irregularly shaped, dumb-bell like. …
The vertex of the adult head is reddish-brown with dense white and beige hairs. Antennae are brown, with reddish rings. Spur count is 2, 2, 3. Claspers of the males are irregularly shaped, dumb-bell like. Otherwise, the overall shape of the clasper is linear, with the extremities folded mesad.
Life History
No information available.
Conservation
Common.
Diet Info
The larvae are omnivorous, obtaining their food either by filter feeding or scraping.
Range
This species has a Holarctic distribution: in North America, from Alaska to New Mexico, in the east from Tennessee to Vermont. In Canada, it is transcontinental (Schmid, 1983).
Citation
Page Citation for Brachycentrus americanus
Page Citation
"Species Details - Brachycentrus americanus, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search-test.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-1064. Accessed 01 Nov. 2025.
References
Author
Schmid, F.
Title
Revision des trichopteres Canadiens. III. Les Hyalopsychidae, Psychomyiidae, Goeride, Brachycentridae, Sericostomatidae, Helicopsychidae, Beraeidae, Odontoceridae, Calamoceratidae et Molannidae.
Publication Date
1983
Series Title
Memoires de la societe entomologique du Canada
Volume
125
Pages
109
Specimen Information
There are 11 specimens of this Species.
UASM6351 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Forestry Trunk Road
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1976-07-17
UASM6352 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Crowsnest River
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1976-07-31
UASM6354 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cripple Creek
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1975-06-17
UASM6356 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nanton
Date Collected1976-08-13
UASM6349 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Swan Hills
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1976-06-06
UASM6350 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dunvegan Provincial Park
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1976-07-31
UASM6353 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Yarrow Creek
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1976-07-31
UASM6355 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Elk Creek
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1976-07-17
UASM6357 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pembina River
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1975-07-20
UASM6367 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Canmore
Collected ByNimmo, A.
Date Collected1978-07-28
BIRD36251 - Brachycentrus americanus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Arrowwood
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2013-08-03