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.

Stream photos

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Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington

I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.

15 Recently Added Photos

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.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Mayfly Genus Leucrocuta

The species of this genus are relatively unimportant, but Leucrocuta hebe and Leucrocuta aphrodite may produce fishable hatches. They have the same general biology as Heptagenia.

Where & when

In 246 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during June (35%), July (32%), August (21%), and May (7%).

In 67 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 3 to 6332 ft, with an average (median) of 2362 ft.

Genus Range

source

Map of specific collection sites

Specimens of the Mayfly Genus Leucrocuta

3 Female Duns

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun

9 Pictures

Lateral view of a Female Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #43 in New York

I found this dun on the same piece of stream as a similar spinner, probably of the same species.

Collected September 18, 2006 from Mystery Creek #43 in New York

Added by Troutnut on October 4, 2006

Collected September 18, 2006 from Mystery Creek #43 in New York and added by Troutnut on October 4, 2006

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun

4 Pictures

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I found Catskill brown trout eagerly surface feeding to this species.

Collected August 21, 2004 from the Beaverkill River in New York

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected August 21, 2004 from the Beaverkill River in New York and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun

3 Pictures

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun from unknown in Wisconsin

Collected July 13, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected July 13, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

2 Male Spinners

Male Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner

10 Pictures

Artistic view of a Male Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin

Collected June 4, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on May 24, 2006

Collected June 4, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on May 24, 2006

Male Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner

5 Pictures

Collected July 1, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on April 22, 2006

Collected July 1, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on April 22, 2006

2 Female Spinners

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner

6 Pictures

Lateral view of a Female Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #43 in New York

I found this spinner on the same piece of stream as a similar dun, probably of the same species.

Collected September 18, 2006 from Mystery Creek #43 in New York

Added by Troutnut on October 4, 2006

Collected September 18, 2006 from Mystery Creek #43 in New York and added by Troutnut on October 4, 2006

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner

9 Pictures

Lateral view of a Female Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Willowemoc Creek in New York

Collected September 3, 2006 from Willowemoc Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on October 3, 2006

Collected September 3, 2006 from Willowemoc Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on October 3, 2006

4 Nymphs

Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph

4 Pictures

Dorsal view of a Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Collected June 8, 2005 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on May 26, 2006

Collected June 8, 2005 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on May 26, 2006

Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph

3 Pictures

Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

This is a very early instar.

Collected February 6, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected February 6, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph

4 Pictures

Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

This is a very early instar.

Collected January 12, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected January 12, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph

2 Pictures

This is a very early instar.

Collected January 12, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected January 12, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Start a Discussion of Leucrocuta

References

Arbona, Fred Jr. 1989. Mayflies, the Angler, and the Trout. Nick Lyons Books.
Caucci, Al and Nastasi, Bob. 2004. Hatches II. The Lyons Press.
Knopp, Malcolm and Robert Cormier. 1997. Mayflies: An Angler's Study of Trout Water Ephemeroptera . The Lyons Press.