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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Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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Caddisfly Genus Ceraclea (Scaly-Wing Sedges)
Ceraclea caddisflies are not ranked among the superhatches, but they may cause selective feeding at times. Ceraclea transversa is the most important species.
Where & when
Time of year : Early summer for most species
Preferred waters: Rivers or lakes
In 649 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during June (31%), July (31%), August (18%), and May (14%).
In 253 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from -30 to 7546 ft, with an average (median) of 942 ft.
Genus Range
Hatching behavior
Gary LaFontaine notes in Caddisflies that Ceraclea species become active a little earlier in the evening than most other caddisflies in the same days, sometimes prompting trout to take them selectively before the other flies have even appeared.Egg-Laying behavior
Time of day: Late afternoon and evening
Larva & pupa biology
Environmental tolerance: Requires cool water
Start a Discussion of Ceraclea
References
- Jacobus, L. M., Wiersema, N.A., and Webb, J.M. 2014. Identification of Far Northern and Western North American Mayfly Larvae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera), North of Mexico; Version 2. Joint Aquatic Science meeting, Portland, OR. Unpublished workshop manual. 1-176.
- LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.
Caddisfly Genus Ceraclea (Scaly-Wing Sedges)
Taxonomy
Species in Ceraclea
Ceraclea maculata
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Ceraclea resurgens
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Ceraclea tarsipunctata
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Ceraclea transversa
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Ceraclea wetzeli
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Species in Ceraclea: Ceraclea maculata, Ceraclea resurgens, Ceraclea tarsipunctata, Ceraclea transversa, Ceraclea wetzeli
33 species (Ceraclea alabamae, Ceraclea alagmus, Ceraclea albostictus, Ceraclea alces, Ceraclea ancylus, Ceraclea annulicornis, Ceraclea arielles, Ceraclea brevis, Ceraclea cama, Ceraclea cancellatus, Ceraclea cophus, Ceraclea daggyi, Ceraclea dilutus, Ceraclea erraticus, Ceraclea erullus, Ceraclea excisus, Ceraclea flavus, Ceraclea floridanus, Ceraclea latahensis, Ceraclea maccalmonti, Ceraclea mentieus, Ceraclea neffi, Ceraclea nephus, Ceraclea nigronervosa, Ceraclea ophioderus, Ceraclea protonepha, Ceraclea punctata, Ceraclea ruthae, Ceraclea slossonae, Ceraclea spongillovorax, Ceraclea submacula, Ceraclea uvalo, and Ceraclea vertreesi) aren't included.