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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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.
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Mayfly Family Metretopodidae (Pseudo-Gray Drakes)
The mayflies of this family are large and elegant as adults and among the fastest-swimming of all mayfly species as nymphs. Sadly only one species (Siphloplecton basale) has been reported to produce fishable hatches, and even those are exceedingly rare.
Where & when
In 74 records from GBIF, adults of this family have mostly been collected during June (35%), July (20%), April (14%), August (12%), March (9%), and May (7%).
In 349 records from GBIF, this family has been collected at elevations ranging from -30 to 3524 ft, with an average (median) of 984 ft.
Family Range
Specimens of the Mayfly Family Metretopodidae
1 Male Dun
This one hatched on the same April Saturday that I saw the first Hendricksons of the season.
1 Male Spinner
I went to great comical lengths to swipe this spinner from the air with a little aquarium net I carry with me while I'm fishing. Siphloplecton basale spinners fly fast and high over the riffles, and there are never very many of them, so they're difficult to catch.
9 Nymphs
This one's stunned or freshly dead in the pictures, because the water in my photographing tank was a bit too warm for him after being under the bright light for a while.
This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.
This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.
This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments. This one has a distinct dorsal stripe.
This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.
This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.
This nymph has double front tarsal claws and double gills on the first three abdominal segments.
Discussions of Metretopodidae
S. basale on Clarks Creek, PA
1 replies
Posted by Wiconisco37 on Feb 4, 2009 in the species Siphloplecton basale
Last reply on Jun 10, 2009 by Martinlf
they were discovered on Clarks Creek by a man from halifax, PA
i dont know what their numbers were like thgough
i dont know what their numbers were like thgough
Start a Discussion of Metretopodidae
References
- 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.
Mayfly Family Metretopodidae (Pseudo-Gray Drakes)
Taxonomy
Genus in Metretopodidae: Metretopus, Siphloplecton