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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 Zapada cinctipes (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Nymphs of this species were fairly common in late-winter kick net samples from the upper Yakima River. Although I could not find a key to species of Zapada nymphs, a revision of the Nemouridae family by Baumann (1975) includes the following helpful sentence: "2 cervical gills on each side of midline, 1 arising inside and 1 outside of lateral cervical sclerites, usually single and elongate, sometimes constricted but with 3 or 4 branches arising beyond gill base in Zapada cinctipes." This specimen clearly has the branches and is within the range of that species.
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.

Hydropsyche aenigma (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult Pictures

These big caddisflies were tempting trout as they wriggled out of their shucks, while others skated across the water at a medium pace, probably egg-laying.

This is the same caddisfly, moments after it emerged (the shuck is still attached a bit).  You can see the body color was much lighter then.

Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Lateral view of a Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Dorsal view of a Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
This body almost cries out to be imitated with peacock herl, doesn't it?

Ventral view of a Hydropsyche aenigma (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York

This caddisfly was collected from the West Branch of the Delaware River in New York on May 15th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18th, 2007.

Discussions of this Adult

Can I get a better ID on this?
3 replies
Posted by Troutnut on May 18, 2007
Last reply on Dec 22, 2007 by Creno
I'm really just guessing. I'm too busy too key it out right now but I'd really like to know what it is. This was one of the main species the fish were taking (along with Apple Caddis) on the West Branch of the Delaware the other day.
genitalia pics?
Posted by Litobrancha on May 19, 2007
Last reply on May 19, 2007 by Litobrancha
jason can you take some better pictures of the genital terminalia? especially the tenth tergite and spines above the inferior appendages? nice specimen.

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References

Hydropsyche aenigma (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult Pictures

Collection details
Location: West Branch of the Delaware River, New York
Date: May 15th, 2007
Added to site: May 18th, 2007
Author: Troutnut
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