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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Water Scorpion Genus Ranatra
Where & when
In 454 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during July (14%), August (13%), June (12%), September (12%), October (11%), April (10%), May (9%), March (6%), and November (6%).
In 11 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 322 to 3688 ft, with an average (median) of 906 ft.
Genus Range
Specimens of the Water Scorpion Genus Ranatra
1 Adult
Here's a big water scorpion (no relation to actual scorpions). These guys are just about the most sinister-looking creatures you could find, and what's especially creepy is that they can come up out of the water and fly around, as I learned when one left my aquarium and buzzed my head while I was peeking into the microscope at a mayfly nymph.
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Water Scorpion Genus Ranatra
Taxonomy
10 species (Ranatra australis, Ranatra brevicollis, Ranatra buenoi, Ranatra drakei, Ranatra fusca, Ranatra kirkaldyi, Ranatra montezuma, Ranatra nigra, Ranatra quadridentata, and Ranatra texana) aren't included.