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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 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.
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Prostoia (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

Dorsal view of a Prostoia (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York
Prostoia (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York
Prostoia (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York
Prostoia (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York
Ventral view of a Prostoia (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York
Prostoia (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

This stonefly was collected from Salmon Creek in New York on March 29th, 2006 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 7th, 2006.

Discussions of this Nymph

Cervical gills
2 replies
Posted by Cteas on Feb 21, 2009
Last reply on Feb 21, 2012 by Lbrize
Where are the cervical gills on this specimen?
Not Capniidae; this is a Nemourid
2 replies
Posted by Acroneuria on Jan 20, 2007
Last reply on Apr 26, 2007 by PeterO
Hard to tell what genus this belongs to; nemourids can be tricky. Capniids are most often confused with Leuctrids--they are very similar.

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References

Prostoia (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: Salmon Creek, New York
Date: March 29th, 2006
Added to site: April 7th, 2006
Author: Troutnut
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