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 is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Caddisfly Genus Molanna (Gray Checkered Sedges)
This genus may be abundant in slow midwestern rivers, although it is not widely regarded as important.
Where & when
Time of year : Mid-July to early September
Preferred waters: Lakes and slow rivers
In 267 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during July (35%), June (34%), August (19%), and May (7%).
In 70 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 3 to 10600 ft, with an average (median) of 1804 ft.
Genus Range
Hatching behavior
Pupae emerge on the surface and may take an unusully long time to struggle free of the film.Egg-Laying behavior
Females dive to the bottom to oviposit.Larva & pupa biology
Diet: Plant matter, plankton, smaller insects
Substrate: Sand or mud
Shelter type: Flat rock pieces with a "hood" that covers the head of the insect. LaFontaine in Caddisflies compares its shape to a cobra head.
Specimens of the Caddisfly Genus Molanna
1 Larva
Start a Discussion of Molanna
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 Unpublished workshop manual. 1-176.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.
- Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. 2019. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Fifth Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
Caddisfly Genus Molanna (Gray Checkered Sedges)
Taxonomy
Species in Molanna: Molanna tryphena, Molanna uniophila
4 species (Molanna blenda, Molanna cinerea, Molanna flavicornis, and Molanna ulmerina) aren't included.