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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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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.
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Stonefly Genus Allocapnia (Little Snowflies)

Allocapnia granulata is the most abundant Capniidae species in the East.

Where & when

In 615 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during March (29%), February (26%), January (20%), December (11%), and April (10%).

In 82 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 125 to 4856 ft, with an average (median) of 3182 ft.

Genus Range

Discussions of Allocapnia

Little Black Stonefly pics
12 replies
Posted by Adirman on Apr 14, 2018 in the species Allocapnia granulata
Last reply on Apr 21, 2018 by Martinlf
Hey guys, went out on the Neversink for awhile today and had a look around, saw a lot of little dark flies, may be the little black stone fly? Hard to tell cuz looked like Caddis too. Looks like about a size 16? Any pics of available of this species would be great.


Thanks

Start a Discussion of Allocapnia

Stonefly Genus Allocapnia (Little Snowflies)

Taxonomy
16 species (Allocapnia brooksi, Allocapnia frisoni, Allocapnia fumosa, Allocapnia illinoensis, Allocapnia jeanae, Allocapnia loshada, Allocapnia malverna, Allocapnia mohri, Allocapnia oribata, Allocapnia peltoides, Allocapnia recta, Allocapnia simmonsi, Allocapnia tennessa, Allocapnia vivipara, Allocapnia warreni, and Allocapnia wrayi) aren't included.
Genus Range
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