Artistic view of a Male Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult from the Gallatin River in Montana

Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica

The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.

Stream photos

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Psychodidae True Fly Larva Psychodidae True Fly Larva

Lateral view of a Psychodidae True Fly Larva from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington

This wild-looking little thing completely puzzled me. At first I was thinking beetle or month larva, until I got a look at the pictures on the computer screen. I made a couple of incorrect guesses before entomologist Greg Courtney pointed me in the right direction with Psychodidae. He suggested a possible genus of Thornburghiella, but could not rule out some other members of the tribe Pericomini.

8 Recently Added Photos

27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Stonefly Family Leuctridae (Needleflies)

Leuctra is the only genus of any known importance to trout anglers. Their wings are rolled to a needle-like point; hence the common name, needle flies.

Where & when

In 70 records from GBIF, adults of this family have mostly been collected during June (21%), March (20%), February (14%), April (11%), May (11%), August (10%), and July (6%).

In 12 records from GBIF, this family has been collected at elevations ranging from 52 to 4203 ft, with an average (median) of 2559 ft.

Family Range

source

Map of specific collection sites

Specimens of the Stonefly Family Leuctridae

4 Adults

Megaleuctra stigmata (Little Black Needlefly) Stonefly Adult

3 Pictures

Megaleuctra stigmata (Leuctridae) (Little Black Needlefly) Stonefly Adult from Talking Water Creek in Montana

This is one of rarest stoneflies in western Montana. It is a bit unusual that it is fairly abundant in a handful of streams that empty into the east side of Flathead Lake. A very beautiful bug.

Collected May 17, 2005 from Talking Water Creek in Montana

Added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

Collected May 17, 2005 from Talking Water Creek in Montana and added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

Paraleuctra occidentalis (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Adult

1 Picture

Paraleuctra occidentalis (Leuctridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Adult from the Touchet River in Washington

Members of the family Leuctridae are usually easily identified to family due to the "rolled" wing. They are small, nearly 1/4 " in length, black in color and emerge in early spring.

Collected March 6, 2012 from the Touchet River in Washington

Added by Bnewell on March 20, 2012

Collected March 6, 2012 from the Touchet River in Washington and added by Bnewell on March 20, 2012

Perlomyia utahensis (Little Black Needlefly) Stonefly Adult

2 Pictures