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 is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Updates from February 26, 2009
Closeup insects by Bnewell from the Flathead River in Montana
Updates from July 16, 2008
Closeup insects by Bnewell from Rock Creek in Montana
Note the unusual red coloration of these Rhithrogena nymphs.
Updates from July 14, 2008
Updates from July 1, 2008
Closeup insects by Bnewell from the Jocko River in Montana
Updates from June 24, 2008
Closeup insects by Bnewell from Yellow Bay Creek and Denali National Park in Montana and Alaska
While relatively rare in most of western Montana, it is common in several small streams along the east side of Flathead Lake and streams on the south side of the Flathead Indian Reservation.
This caddis is one of the most abundant caddisflies in temporary ponds of Glacier Park. The larvae build a round case of detritus and dead plant material that can get quite large.
References
- Jacobus, L. M., Wiersema, N.A., and Webb, J.M. 2014. Identification of Far Northern and Western North American Mayfly Larvae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera), North of Mexico; Version 2. Joint Aquatic Science meeting, Portland, OR. Unpublished workshop manual. 1-176.
- Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. 2019. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Fifth Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.