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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This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Stonefly Family Capniidae (Snowflies)
These are the first stoneflies of the year to appear in most parts of the country, and often the first aquatic insects noticed by the angler. Their dark brown or black bodies are easy to spot against the snowbanks where they crawl around.
Capnia in the West and Allocapnia in the East are probably the most common genera of this prolific family.
Capnia in the West and Allocapnia in the East are probably the most common genera of this prolific family.
Where & when
Time of year : Late winter to mid-spring
In 708 records from GBIF, adults of this family have mostly been collected during March (29%), February (24%), January (18%), April (12%), and December (10%).
In 93 records from GBIF, this family has been collected at elevations ranging from 125 to 8648 ft, with an average (median) of 3212 ft.
Family Range
Specimens of the Stonefly Family Capniidae
1 Female Adult
3 Adults
This drowned Capniidae adult showed up in my drift net sample while I was looking for nymphs. I took photos of the drowned adult in water like a nymph.
6 Nymphs
Upper specimen is a nymph and the lower specimen is a wingless male.
Discussions of Capniidae
Little Black Stonefly pics
12 replies
Posted by Adirman on Apr 14, 2018 in the species Allocapnia granulata
Last reply on Apr 21, 2018 by Martinlf
Hey guys, went out on the Neversink for awhile today and had a look around, saw a lot of little dark flies, may be the little black stone fly? Hard to tell cuz looked like Caddis too. Looks like about a size 16? Any pics of available of this species would be great.
Thanks
Thanks
little black stoneflies
5 replies
Posted by CaseyP on Nov 28, 2012
Last reply on Nov 29, 2012 by Entoman
in the winter, we here in the east are told that little black stoneflies might be hatching, so we tie up neat little tiny black things to represent the dries. can anyone steer me to a proper pattern for the nymphs? or is any dark quite small generic nymph going to do the job?
and surely they have a sexy Latin name...
and surely they have a sexy Latin name...
Winter Stones and the like
3 replies
Posted by DarkDun on Nov 20, 2006
Last reply on May 21, 2008 by Greenwolly
I like your site and all it offers. Would like you to come on down to the Southeast and identify our species of mayflies, caddis and plecoptera. Ours are a bit different in makeup than elsewhere and really need cataloging. We constantly are trying to compare our species to the northern hatches and it does not fit into their pattern. We are a month ahead of everywhere else and twice as long in many cases. Some hatches seem to be identifiable and then some defy easy categorization.
DarkDun
DarkDun
Start a Discussion of Capniidae
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.
- Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. 2019. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Fifth Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.
Stonefly Family Capniidae (Snowflies)
Taxonomy
Genus in Capniidae
AllocapniaLittle Snowflies
0
0
Arsapnia
0
0
Bolshecapnia
0
0
CapniaLittle Snowflies
1
2
IsocapniaLittle Snowflies
2
2
Mesocapnia
0
0
Nemocapnia
0
0
Sasquacapnia
0
0
Sierracapnia
0
0
UtacapniaLittle Snowflies
2
2
Genus in Capniidae: Allocapnia, Arsapnia, Bolshecapnia, Capnia, Isocapnia, Mesocapnia, Nemocapnia, Sasquacapnia, Sierracapnia, Utacapnia
4 genera (Capnura, Eucapnopsis, Eurekapnia, and Paracapnia) aren't included.