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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.

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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.
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Male Cinygmula reticulata (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

The lengths of the wing and body, measured with a caliper, are both 8 mm.

Keys in Needham's 1935 Biology of Mayflies point to either Cinygmula reticulata or Cinygmula gartrelli. It seems to have crossveins in costal half of forewing only, slightly margined with brown and wings tinged with amber at base and along costal margin of both wing (gartrelli) as opposed to all crossveins of both wings faintly but broadly margined with pale smoky and wings entirely amber-tinged (although there is a slight amber tinge throughout, just more pronounced in places) as in reticulata. However, wing length reported for reticulata (9 mm) is closer to this specimen than gartrelli (10 mm). Ventral median marks are supposed to be "traces" for reticulata and "present" for gartrelli. Descriptions for both species involve semi-hyaline anterior abdominal segments not present on my specimens. Distribution records suggest reticulata lives nearby, so I'm going with that, but I can't confidently rule out gartrelli.

Male Cinygmula reticulata (Heptageniidae) (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana
Lateral view of a Male Cinygmula reticulata (Heptageniidae) (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana
Male Cinygmula reticulata (Heptageniidae) (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana
Dorsal view of a Male Cinygmula reticulata (Heptageniidae) (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana
Ventral view of a Male Cinygmula reticulata (Heptageniidae) (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana
Male Cinygmula reticulata (Heptageniidae) (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana
Ruler view of a Male Cinygmula reticulata (Heptageniidae) (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.

This mayfly was collected from Mystery Creek #237 in Montana on August 1st, 2020 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on August 18th, 2020.


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Male Cinygmula reticulata (Western Ginger Quill) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Collection details
Location: Mystery Creek #237, Montana
Date: August 1st, 2020
Added to site: August 18th, 2020
Author: Troutnut
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