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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.

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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.
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Hellgrammite Species Nigronia serricornis (Fishflies)

This is an especially abundant dobsonfly species in my collections.

Where & when

In 98 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during June (32%), May (30%), July (20%), and April (13%).

In 26 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 295 to 5279 ft, with an average (median) of 1926 ft.

Specimens of the Hellgrammite Species Nigronia serricornis

1 Male Adult
4 Larvae

Start a Discussion of Nigronia serricornis

References

  • Brigham, W.U., A.K. Brigham, and A. Gnilke. 1982. Aquatic Insects and Oligochaetes of North and South Carolina. Midwest Aquatic Entomologist.
  • 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 Unpublished workshop manual. 1-176.
  • Knight, Allen W. and C.A. Siegfried. 1977. The Distribution of Corydalus cornutus (Linnaeus) and Nigronia serricornis (Say) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) in Michigan. Great Lakes Entomologist 10(2): 39-46.
  • Neunzig, H.H. 1966. Larvae of the Genus Nigronia Banks. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 68(1): 11-16.
  • Stehr, Frederick W. 1998. Immature Insects. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Hellgrammite Species Nigronia serricornis (Fishflies)

Resources
  • NatureServe
  • Integrated Taxonomic Information System
  • Global Biodiversity Information Facility
  • Described by Say, T. Order Neuroptera. Pp. 303-310 in Keating, W. H. (ed.). Narrative of an expedition to the source of St. Peter's River, Lake Winnepeek, Lake of the Woods, &c. &c. performed in the year 1823, by order of the Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under the command of Stephen H. Long, Major U.S.T.E. Vol. 2. Carey and Lea, Philadelphia. (1824).
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