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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Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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Ginger Quill Spinners
Like most common names,"Ginger Quill Spinner" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 7 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.
Mayfly Species Stenonema ithaca
These are sometimes called Ginger Quill Spinners.
This female looks very much like a male I collected a few hundred miles away a few days later, so I'm guessing it's the same species, which I believe is Maccaffertium mediopunctatum.
This specimen seems to be of the same species as a dun I photographed which emerged from another nymph in the same sample.
See 2 more specimens...
Mayfly Species Heptagenia solitaria
These are very rarely called Ginger Quill Spinners.
This species is common in the Flathead River below Kerr Day. The river here is fairly warm with a cobble and boulder bottom with heavy periphyton at times. This species is not common elsewhere in western Montana.
See 1 more specimen...
Mayfly Species Stenonema vicarium
These are very rarely called Ginger Quill Spinners.
In the East and Midwest this is one of the most important hatches of the Spring. They are large flies which emerge sporadically, making for long days of good fishing.
This species contains the two classic Eastern hatches formerly known as Stenonema vicarium and Stenonema fuscum, the "March Brown" and "Gray Fox." Entomologists have discovered that these mayflies belong to the same species, but they still display differences in appearance which the trout notice easily. Anglers should be prepared to imitate both types.
This species contains the two classic Eastern hatches formerly known as Stenonema vicarium and Stenonema fuscum, the "March Brown" and "Gray Fox." Entomologists have discovered that these mayflies belong to the same species, but they still display differences in appearance which the trout notice easily. Anglers should be prepared to imitate both types.
I collected this mayfly on the same trip as a female of the same species. After these photos it molted into a spinner. This is the form of Stenonema vicarium which anglers call the "Gray Fox."
See 17 more specimens...
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.