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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.

Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult Pictures

Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York
Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York
Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York
Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York
Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York
Ventral view of a Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York
A freshwater amphipod (scud). Tiny crustacean common to many freshwater environments

Dorsal view of a Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

This arthropod 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 Adult

wtf
3 replies
Posted by Trouthater on Sep 6, 2006
Last reply on Mar 19, 2009 by Sandfly
gross
midwest as well?
1 replies
Posted by ReAlizm on Mar 6, 2009
Last reply on Mar 6, 2009 by CharlieSawd
I'm from Missouri, and I'm wondering if this species of scud could also me found in the midwest?

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Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult Pictures

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