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 specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.
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Moths
This common name refers to only one order. Click its scientific name to learn more.
Insect Order Lepidoptera
These are pretty much always called Moths.
The order Lepidoptera includes both butterflies and moths, but moths are the most important to the angler because so many species spend part of their lives underwater. These aquatic species are similar in many ways to caddisflies.
Many species, of course, are not aquatic at all.
Many species, of course, are not aquatic at all.
I have been told this is the only western aquatic moth, Petrophila confusalis, see here on milkweed blossoms.
I caught this inchworm lowering itself to the surface of a trout stream from its silk thread. I saw a couple others floating on the surface, so it's likely the trout were familiar with them.
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