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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Stonefly Species Pteronarcys dorsata (Salmonflies)
This is the largest common eastern stonefly. It's quite abundant in places, but not to the extent of its western counterparts, and since most of its activity is at night it is generally less important. Nevertheless, nymph imitations produce some very large trout, and lucky or very locally knowledgable anglers may find good fishing to the egg-laying adults.
Where & when
Time of year : Late April through late June
In 27 records from GBIF, adults of this species have been collected during May (41%), April (26%), July (15%), March (11%), and June (7%).
Species Range
Egg-Laying behavior
Time of day: Overnight; some dawn/dusk overflow
Habitat: Riffles
Specimens of the Stonefly Species Pteronarcys dorsata
3 Nymphs
Pteronarcys nymphs live for two years before maturing. This small one is in its first year.
1 Streamside Picture of Pteronarcys dorsata Stoneflies:
Large stonefly nymphs sometimes crawl quite far from the water before emerging. This empty case is from a nymph that hatched about 5 feet up in a tree 10 feet from the river.
In this picture: Stonefly Species Pteronarcys dorsata (American Salmonfly).
1 Video of Pteronarcys dorsata Stoneflies:
Pteronarcys
Featuring: Pteronarcys dorsata Stonefly Nymph
Discussions of Pteronarcys dorsata
Question
7 replies
Posted by Max29 on Jan 29, 2008
Last reply on Jan 29, 2008 by Taxon
Are stoneflies and salmonflies the same thing or are they just related because here in the mid west we have the stonfly hatch and if they are related the stonfly could be called the salmonfly and the salmonfly hatch is only in the west because I have trouble because I want to become a better insect identifier when it comes to fishing because i went to other sites that so a stonefly is a stonefly and a salmonfly is a salmon fly but yet you say stonefly nymph but in parenteseses you have american salmonfly so is there really no such thing as a salmonfly but it is rather called a stonefly.
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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.
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.
Stonefly Species Pteronarcys dorsata (Salmonflies)
Species Range
Common Names
Resources
- NatureServe
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility
- Described by Say, T. (1823) Description of insects belonging to the order Neuroptera Linn., Latr. Collected by the Expedition authorized by J.C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under the command of Maior S.H. Long. The Western quarterly reporter of medical, surgical, and natural science 2, 160–165.