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 seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
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Caddisfly Species Polycentropus cinereus (Brown Checkered Summer Sedges)
Where & when
Time of year : June through August; best from mid-June through early July
Preferred waters: Lakes and streams
In 41 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during June (41%), July (32%), August (15%), and May (7%).
In 7 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 361 to 5449 ft, with an average (median) of 4964 ft.
Larva & pupa biology
Current speed: Slow
Environmental tolerance: Best in cool, clear water
Shelter type: Larvae live in a silk tube used as an ambush point, or build a net to capture prey
Start a Discussion of Polycentropus cinereus
References
- LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.