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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 Capnia (Little Snowflies)

This is one of the most common genera of Capniidae.

Where & when

In 47 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during April (34%), March (21%), May (15%), February (13%), and June (11%).

In 8 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 220 to 8648 ft, with an average (median) of 5338 ft.

Genus Range

Specimens of the Stonefly Genus Capnia

1 Adult

Start a Discussion of Capnia

References

Stonefly Genus Capnia (Little Snowflies)

Taxonomy
33 species (Capnia californica, Capnia cheama, Capnia coloradensis, Capnia confusa, Capnia elongata, Capnia erecta, Capnia excavata, Capnia fialai, Capnia giulianii, Capnia glabra, Capnia hitchcocki, Capnia jewetti, Capnia lacustra, Capnia licina, Capnia lineata, Capnia mariposa, Capnia melia, Capnia nearctica, Capnia ophiona, Capnia oregona, Capnia petila, Capnia promota, Capnia quadrituberosa, Capnia regilla, Capnia saratoga, Capnia scobina, Capnia sextuberculata, Capnia spinulosa, Capnia uintahi, Capnia valhalla, Capnia vernalis, Capnia willametta, and Capnia zukeli) aren't included.
Genus Range
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