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 one pretty clearly keys to Kogotus, but it also looks fairly different from specimens I caught in the same creek about a month later in the year. With only one species of the genus known in Washington, I'm not sure about the answer to this ID.
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Caddisfly Species Mystacides sepulchralis (Black Dancers)
Where & when
Preferred waters: Spring ponds and rivers
In 111 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during June (27%), August (25%), July (24%), May (14%), and September (7%).
In 35 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 3 to 3873 ft, with an average (median) of 1181 ft.
Species Range
Larva & pupa biology
Current speed: Still or slow
Specimens of the Caddisfly Species Mystacides sepulchralis
2 Adults
I captured this small caddisfly from one of many dense mating swarms under overhanging alder trees in a slow stretch of the river. There were localized rises of trout under the swarms.
1 Male Adult
This was one of many of its species which were gathered in small, low-flying swarms of about a dozen insects near the alder trees in the afternoon on a small stream.
Start a Discussion of Mystacides sepulchralis
References
- LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.
Caddisfly Species Mystacides sepulchralis (Black Dancers)
Species Range
Common Names
Resources
- NatureServe
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility
- Described by Walker (1852)