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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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.

Trout Stream Insects

Trout Stream Insects

Visit the Trout Stream Insects section for thousands of closeups of mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and others, along with detailed information about their life cycles and relevance to angling. This section showcases a few favorites.

Fun closeup at 5X zoom of the mites parasitizing this Sweltsa stonefly.

Artistic view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington
Lateral view of a Psychodidae True Fly Larva from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington
Ventral view of a Hydropsyche (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
Doroneuria baumanni (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from Swauk Creek in Washington
Case view of a Chyranda (Limnephilidae) (Pale Western Stream Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Icicle River in Washington
Lateral view of a Male Epeorus longimanus (Heptageniidae) (Slate Brown Dun) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #295 in Washington
Lateral view of a Empididae True Fly Adult from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington
Dorsal view of a Claassenia sabulosa (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Artistic view of a Hesperoperla pacifica (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Artistic view of a Male Drunella flavilinea (Ephemerellidae) (Flav) Mayfly Dun from the Cedar River in Washington
Lateral view of a Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
Lateral view of a Male Caudatella heterocaudata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Dun from the Cedar River in Washington
Lateral view of a Male Cinygmula tarda (Heptageniidae) Mayfly Dun from the Cedar River in Washington
Lateral view of a Male Eurylophella temporalis (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin
Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Female Isonychia (Isonychiidae) (Slate Drake) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Lateral view of a Female Chauliodes rastricornis (Corydalidae) (Fishfly) Hellgrammite Adult from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
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