Artistic view of a Male Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult from the Gallatin River in Montana

Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica

The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.

Stream photos

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Amphizoa Beetle Larva Amphizoa Beetle Larva

Dorsal view of a Amphizoa (Amphizoidae) Beetle Larva from Sears Creek in Washington

This is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).

5 Recently Added Photos

27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Caddisfly Species Nyctiophylax affinis (Dinky Light Summer Sedges)

Where & when

Time of year : Early summer

Altitude: Lakes and streams

This widespread species is most common in the Midwest.

In 81 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during June (33%), July (26%), August (19%), May (14%), and September (7%).

In 39 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 328 to 7201 ft, with an average (median) of 2887 ft.

Species Range

source

Map of specific collection sites

Specimens of the Caddisfly Species Nyctiophylax affinis

1 Adult

Nyctiophylax affinis (Dinky Light Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Adult

12 Pictures

Nyctiophylax affinis (Polycentropodidae) (Dinky Light Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Teal River in Wisconsin

This specimen is certainly Nyctiophylax and most likely Nyctiophylax affinis. I don't know my caddisfly parts well enough to definitively follow the Nyctiophylax key in Morse (1972), but that source states that affinis is the predominant Midwestern species, being widespread and common in the region where I found this one. The anatomy of this one seems to match those at least as well as the other two potential options based on range, Nyctiophylax uncus and Nyctiophylax banksi.

Collected June 7, 2021 from the Teal River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on June 9, 2021

Collected June 7, 2021 from the Teal River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on June 9, 2021

Start a Discussion of Nyctiophylax affinis

References

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.
Morse, JC. 1972. The genus Nyctiophylax in North America. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 42(2): 172-181.