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.

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Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.

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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.

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Pteronarcys californica nymph

Millcreek has attached these 4 pictures. The message is below.

Taken from Russian River. Dec. 24th, 2015. 25 mm.

Taken from Russian River. June 17, 2013. 30 mm.

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Jun 13, 2016June 13th, 2016, 6:28 pm EDT

These are relatively uncommon in the Russian River. They are more common in its tributaries. Typically they are found in fast glides or riffles.

They can be confused with Pteronarcella or other species of Pteronacys but Pteronarcella have a rounded pronotum and gills on the third abdominal segment while the only other known species of Pteronarcys in the area, Pteronarcys princeps has a less pointed pronotum.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Jun 13, 2016June 13th, 2016, 8:56 pm EDT

Love these big guys! Not sure if our species is the same, ours are pretty much black, and up to a size 2! And you practically have to dig into a log to find them, they like to crawl into crevices in wood. The adults are pretty impressive too!

Jonathon

No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Jun 14, 2016June 14th, 2016, 5:55 am EDT

Jonathon - The species are different, but pretty much similar superficially. As far as habitat goes ours seem to prefer a bottom of large gravel and cobbles. The adults are impressive and pretty poor fliers. They just lumber along.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein