Header image
Enter a name
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.

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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.

Troutnut.com User JOHNW

Troutnut.com User JOHNW

Location
Chambersburg, PA
Biography & Thoughts
If I should fall from grace with god
Where no doctor can relieve me
If I'm buried 'neath the sod
But the angels won't receive me

Let me go, boys
Let me go, boys
Let me go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

Forum Signature
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn

Send JOHNW a Private Message

Latest Posts By JOHNW

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
6
Mar 19, 2014
by JOHNW
12
Feb 22, 2014
by JOHNW
8
Dec 23, 2013
by JOHNW
5
Nov 28, 2013
by JOHNW
24
Oct 19, 2013
by JOHNW
3
Mar 27, 2013
by JOHNW
34
Feb 5, 2013
by JOHNW
21
May 14, 2012
by JOHNW
15
Jan 28, 2012
by JOHNW
13
Oct 19, 2011
by JOHNW
6
Oct 18, 2011
by JOHNW
4
Aug 4, 2011
by JOHNW
2
Jun 30, 2011
by JOHNW
6
Jun 24, 2011
by JOHNW
6
May 24, 2011
by JOHNW
2
May 15, 2011
by JOHNW
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy