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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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.
— 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.
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Caddisfly Species Brachycentrus fuliginosus (Grannoms)
This species was once given credit for the prolific Grannom hatches in the East. More recent authors suggest that this was an identification mix-up, and that this relatively uncommon species is not very important.
Where & when
This species occurs in far northern trout streams in the continental U.S. and Canada.In 15 records from GBIF, adults of this species have been collected during June (40%), July (27%), May (20%), and April (13%).
In 2 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations of 3 and 20 ft.
Species Range
Start a Discussion of Brachycentrus fuliginosus
References
- LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.
- Schwiebert, Ernest G. 1955. Matching the Hatch. MacMillan Publishing Company.
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.
Caddisfly Species Brachycentrus fuliginosus (Grannoms)
Species Range
Common Name
Resources
- NatureServe
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility
- Described by Walker (1852)