Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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This specimen keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.
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Stonefly Genus Acroneuria (Golden Stones)
This abundant genus has three important East/Midwest species. The superabundant species in the West have been moved to the new genera Calineuria and Hesperoperla.
Genus Range
Identification
To determine whether a specimen of Perlidae belongs to Acroneuria, use the Key to Genera of Perlidae Nymphs.
Specimens of the Stonefly Genus Acroneuria
1 Female Adult
6 Nymphs
The presence of anal gills, large dark spot in the center of the pale occipital bar point to lycorias.
Start a Discussion of Acroneuria
References
- Schwiebert, Ernest G. 1955. Matching the Hatch. MacMillan Publishing Company.
Stonefly Genus Acroneuria (Golden Stones)
Taxonomy
Species in Acroneuria
Acroneuria abnormisCommon Stone
3
32
Acroneuria arenosaEastern Stone
0
0
Acroneuria carolinensisCarolina Stoneflies
1
3
Acroneuria kosztarabiVirginia Stone
0
0
Acroneuria lycoriasBoreal Stoneflies
3
29
Species in Acroneuria: Acroneuria abnormis, Acroneuria arenosa, Acroneuria carolinensis, Acroneuria kosztarabi, Acroneuria lycorias
10 species (Acroneuria arida, Acroneuria evoluta, Acroneuria filicis, Acroneuria flinti, Acroneuria frisoni, Acroneuria hitchcocki, Acroneuria internata, Acroneuria ozarkensis, Acroneuria perplexa, and Acroneuria petersi) aren't included.