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.

For how many years, I wonder, have these huge slabs of rock sheltered wild brook trout?

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

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Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva

Lateral view of a Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva from Sears Creek in Washington

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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.

Pycnopsyche (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Pictures

Pycnopsyche (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mystery Creek #62 in New York

Look closely at these pictures of the case and you can see it's not solid wood pieces, but that some of the silk used to attach the wood is showing through in the cracks.

Pycnopsyche (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mystery Creek #62 in New York

Case view of a Pycnopsyche (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mystery Creek #62 in New York

I cut open the top of this larva's case and spread it out so you can see what the inside looks like. It's a tough coating of silk, surprisingly thick.

Pycnopsyche (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mystery Creek #62 in New York

Dorsal view of a Pycnopsyche (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mystery Creek #62 in New York

This is a big one.

Ruler view of a Pycnopsyche (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Mystery Creek #62 in New York The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.

This caddisfly was collected from Mystery Creek #62 in New York on April 1st, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 3rd, 2007.

Discussions of this Larva

good Trichoptera key

4 replies

Posted by Earlfishman on Apr 11, 2007

Last reply on Apr 17, 2007 by GONZO

Find a used copy of Wiggin's "trichoptera larvae of north america" or some similar title. It is the best guide to get to genus for all the caddis you may run across

Possibly Pycnopsyche

Posted by GONZO on Apr 3, 2007

Last reply on Apr 3, 2007 by GONZO

Based on the case and the size, I'd tenatively guess Pycnopsyche. But someone else may have a way to key the larva.

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