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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Caddisfly Family Uenoidae
Taxonomic History
Every Uenoidae genus used to be in the family Limnephilidae, but in 1985 they were reclassified into their own family. Unspecified aspects of their behavior are probably similar to Limnephilidae. The two most important genera to anglers were recently moved to the family Thremmatidae.
Family Range
2 Underwater Pictures of Uenoidae Caddisflies:
A variety of cased caddisfly larvae, probably mostly Neophylax, have clustered along the backside of a rock in fast water. There seem to be some Helicopsychidae larvae clustered along the bottom, and a few other taxa are mixed in. It's interesting that several larvae have especially large stones placed over the front openings of their cases, perhaps to block the case off for pupation.
It does seem to be the wrong time of year for Neophylax to be pupating, but that was the ID given for one of these which I collected and photographed up close.
It does seem to be the wrong time of year for Neophylax to be pupating, but that was the ID given for one of these which I collected and photographed up close.
A wide variety of caddis larvae and other insects have clustered together on the backside of this rock in fast water.
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Neophylax (Autumn Mottled Sedge).
Discussions of Uenoidae
Former classification
2 replies
Posted by Troutnut on Jul 24, 2006
Last reply on Jul 24, 2006 by Troutnut
In Caddisflies, LaFontaine mentions Neophylax as a member of the Limnephilidae family. The family Uenoidae is in the same superfamily as Limnephilidae, so I'm wondering if it was a recent split and all the genera used to be in Limnephilidae. I couldn't find anything in a quick web search... anybody know?