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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.

Dorsal view of a Amphizoa (Amphizoidae) Beetle Larva from Sears Creek in Washington
This is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).
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.

Updates from April 18, 2007

Closeup insects by Bnewell from Roy's Creek in Montana

Perlomyia utahensis (Leuctridae) (Little Black Needlefly) Stonefly Adult from Roy's Creek in Montana

Updates from April 13, 2007

Underwater photos by Troutnut from Cayuta Creek in New York

A variety of cased caddisfly larvae, probably mostly Neophylax, have clustered along the backside of a rock in fast water.  There seem to be some Helicopsychidae larvae clustered along the bottom, and a few other taxa are mixed in.  It's interesting that several larvae have especially large stones placed over the front openings of their cases, perhaps to block the case off for pupation.

It does seem to be the wrong time of year for Neophylax to be pupating, but that was the ID given for one of these which I collected and photographed up close.

From Cayuta Creek in New York
A wide variety of caddis larvae and other insects have clustered together on the backside of this rock in fast water.

From Cayuta Creek in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Cayuta Creek in New York

Updates from April 9, 2007

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #62 in New York

Lateral view of a Male Stictochironomus (Chironomidae) Midge Adult from Mystery Creek #62 in New York
This midge and several like it, including a female I also photographed, hatched from larvae which were living in some fine mud I'm using as substrate in my bug-rearing aquarium.
Lateral view of a Female Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Adult from Mystery Creek #62 in New York
This midge and several like it, including a male I also photographed, hatched from larvae which were living in some fine mud I'm using as substrate in my bug-rearing aquarium. This one flew away before I could photograph it on the ruler, but it would have measured slightly smaller than the male.

Updates from April 3, 2007

Closeup insects by Bnewell from the Big Thompson River in Montana

Male Rhithrogena virilis (Heptageniidae) Mayfly Spinner from the Big Thompson River in Montana
Before I reared this specimen the nymphs were unknown. See Western North American Naturalist for the paper on the description of this species' nymph.

Updates from April 2, 2007

Photos by Troutnut from Fall Creek in New York

Everything just kind of blends together in this turbulent picture, taken during an early-season skunking on an unfamiliar stretch of river.

From Fall Creek in New York

Underwater photos by Troutnut from Hemlock Creek in New York

Hemlock Creek in New York
Hemlock Creek in New York
Hemlock Creek in New York
Hemlock Creek in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Owasco Inlet in New York

Lateral view of a Female Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Owasco Inlet in New York
This female was associated with a male of the same species.
Lateral view of a Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Owasco Inlet in New York
This male was associated with a female of the same species.

References

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