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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.

Lone tree on a rock in the middle of Big Lake. Fittingly, Big Lake is the largest of several short wide spots in the upper Brule River.

From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

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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.

11 Recently Added Photos

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 February 29, 2004

Updates from February 29, 2004

Videos by Troutnut from the Marengo River and Miscellaneous Wisconsin in Wisconsin

Another Hexagenia

Featuring: Hexagenia limbata Mayfly Nymph

Shot on Feb 29, 2004 from Marengo River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on Mar 30, 2006

Two Phryganeidae caddis larvae fighting over a case

Caddisfly larvae of this family can easily leave and re-enters their cases. I caught two of them playing musical chairs or something with this one... funny!

Featuring: Phryganeidae Caddisfly Larva

Shot on Feb 29, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on Mar 30, 2006

Photos by Troutnut from the Marengo River and the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

I had excellent luck sampling burrowing mayfly nymphs here in the headwaters of a trouty small stream.

From the Marengo River in Wisconsin

I had to really search for a while to find a sliver of opening water at this sampling site far in the headwaters of a mighty warmwater river.

From the Far Upper West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

I had excellent luck sampling burrowing mayfly nymphs here in the headwaters of a trouty small stream.

From the Marengo River in Wisconsin

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Miscellaneous Wisconsin and the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

3
Clitellata-Hirudinae (Leech) Animal Adult

Dorsal view of a Clitellata-Hirudinae (Leech) Animal Adult from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Taeniopteryx (Early Black Stonefly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Taeniopteryx (Taeniopterygidae) (Early Black Stonefly) Stonefly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

2
Calopteryx Damselfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Calopteryx (Calopterygidae) Damselfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

2
Tipulidae (Crane Fly) True Fly Larva

Dorsal view of a Tipulidae (Crane Fly) True Fly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Sialis Alderfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Sialis (Sialidae) Alderfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Cordulegaster Dragonfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Cordulegaster (Cordulegastridae) Dragonfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Hagenius brevistylus (Dragonhunter) Dragonfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Hagenius brevistylus (Gomphidae) (Dragonhunter) Dragonfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Simuliidae (Black Fly) True Fly Larva

Dorsal view of a Simuliidae (Black Fly) True Fly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

2
Calopteryx Damselfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Calopteryx (Calopterygidae) Damselfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Molanna (Gray Checkered Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Molanna (Molannidae) (Gray Checkered Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Chimarra (Little Black Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Chimarra (Philopotamidae) (Little Black Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

5
Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Onocosmoecus unicolor (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Case view of a Onocosmoecus unicolor (Limnephilidae) (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

5
Phryganeidae Caddisfly Larva

Case view of a Phryganeidae Caddisfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

This "specimen" is actually two caddis larvae fighting each other over a case. The case is a hollow tube; one larva would go in the back end, presumably bite the other, and chase it out. The invader crawled forward into the case while the other one fled, and then it went around to the back and bit the first one. They did this several times, and I recorded it on video.

2
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Siphloplecton basale (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.

4
Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Siphloplecton basale (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.

3
Siphloplecton (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Siphloplecton (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments. This one has a distinct dorsal stripe.

4
Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Siphloplecton basale (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.

4
Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Siphloplecton basale (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.

3
Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Siphloplecton basale (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.

4
Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph from the West Fork of the Chippewa River, Headwaters in Wisconsin

2
Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph from the West Fork of the Chippewa River, Headwaters in Wisconsin

5
Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph from the West Fork of the Chippewa River, Headwaters in Wisconsin

3
Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph from the West Fork of the Chippewa River, Headwaters in Wisconsin

3
Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

3
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

2
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

7
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

2
Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Nymph

Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Ephemera simulans (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Ephemera simulans (Ephemeridae) (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Ephemera simulans (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Ephemera simulans (Ephemeridae) (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

4
Ephemera simulans (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph

I caught the gills in just the right position on this one to show the abdominal markings between them.

Ephemera simulans (Ephemeridae) (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

3
Baetisca laurentina (Armored Mayfly) Mayfly Nymph

Baetisca laurentina (Baetiscidae) (Armored Mayfly) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

I took a few group picture of a bunch of Baetisca laurentina nymphs to show the degree of individual variation in size, color, and shape that can occur within the same species in the same pool of the same river. This variation is one important reason why trout are forgiving of some small degree of variation in our imitations--the naturals themselves vary, too.

3
Stenonema (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Nymph

Stenonema (Heptageniidae) (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

2
Ephemera simulans (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph

Ephemera simulans (Ephemeridae) (Brown Drake) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

Here's an unusually small early instar nymph.

2
Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph

Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

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