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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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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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Caddisfly Family Apataniidae (Early Smoky Wing Sedges)

This family contains one sometimes important genus, Apatania.

Taxonomic History

All of the genera in this family were until somewhat recently classified in Limnephilidae.

Where & when

In 299 records from GBIF, adults of this family have mostly been collected during July (29%), August (21%), June (19%), September (15%), and May (6%).

In 266 records from GBIF, this family has been collected at elevations ranging from -164 to 12657 ft, with an average (median) of 789 ft.

Family Range

Specimens of the Caddisfly Family Apataniidae

2 Adults
1 Larva

Start a Discussion of Apataniidae

Caddisfly Family Apataniidae (Early Smoky Wing Sedges)

Taxonomy
Genus in Apataniidae
Apatania
3
16
Genus in Apataniidae: Apatania
4 genera (Allomyia, Manophylax, Moselyana, and Pedomoecus) aren't included.
Family Range
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