There are 4 stages in the midge fly life cycle. Eggs are deposited on the surface and sink to the bottom where they hatch into Larva. The Larvae burrow into the mud or construct small tubes in which they live. Larvae play an important role in cleaning the environment by consuming and recycling organic debris. The Larvae transform into Pupae while they are still down in the mud or in their tubes and in another three days or so, the Pupae swim to the surface and hatch into adult Midge flies where they swim and mate. They do not feed as adults and live only a few days (3 to 5 days).
The pupae stage is probably he most imitated by fly tyers and the Zebra midge is probably the most common and widely used pattern. Story has it that the pattern originated around the Lees Ferry region of Northern Arizona along the Colorado River by guide Ted Welling and the variations of the original have spread far and wide. Different beads, no bead, tail on, collars, wings and wing buds are just some variations.
Photo povided by Erik Kraps