Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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Identification: Key to Genera of Perlodidae Nymphs, Couplet 21
Identification: Key to Genera of Perlodidae Nymphs, Couplet 21
Error: Tried to access a key that isn't live.
Adapted from Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019)
| Option 1 | Option 2 |
|---|---|
Outermost cusp of both mandibles serrate 
| Outermost cusp of both mandibles unserrated, or with indistinct serrations on left mandible only |
Mesal tufts of silky setae on occiput
| Occiput without mesal tuft of silky setae |
Abdominal segments 1–2 divided by pleural fold 
| Abdominal segments 1–3 divided by pleural fold |
| Western North America (the range maps below are off, because they also include compacta) | Western North America and higher latitudes of Eastern North America |
3 Example Specimens
This one took an embarrassingly long time to identify, because the key I was following sent me on a wild goose chase when I interpreted the longitudinal dorsal stripe on the abdomen of this specimen as a "longitudinal pigment band." I've updated the key text on this site so that mistake isn't so easy for others to make.
| |
| Skwala | Skwala Species Skwala compacta |
Adapted from Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019)
The current couplet is highlighted with darker colors and a icon, and couplets leading to this point have a icon.
Leads to Couplet 2:
- Gills present on one or more thoracic segments (sf 16.145)
Couplet 2
Leads to Couplet 6:
- Gills absent from thoracic segments
Couplet 6
Leads to Oroperla
(Oroperla barbara):
(Oroperla barbara):
- Lateral abdominal gills present (sf 16.146)
- California and Nevada
Leads to Couplet 4:
- Lateral obdominal gills absent
Couplet 4
Leads to Perlinodes
(Perlinodes aurea):
(Perlinodes aurea):
- Cervical gills present (sf 16.145)
- Western North America
Leads to Couplet 5:
- Cervical gills absent
Couplet 5
Leads to Salmoperla
(Salmoperla sylvanica):
(Salmoperla sylvanica):
- Prothoracic gills reduced to nipple-like stubs
- Mesothoracic and metathoracic gills forked (sf 16.35)
- California and Oregon
Leads to Couplet 7:
- Lacinia unidentate, except bidentate in early instar Kogotus
Couplet 7
Leads to Couplet 10:
- Lacinia bidentate
Couplet 10
Leads to Kogotus:
- Mesosternum without transverse anterior furrow
- Western North America
- common
Leads to Rickera
(Rickera sorpta):
(Rickera sorpta):
- Mesosternal furcal pits often connected by a transverse anterior furrow, sometimes difficult to discern in young nymphs (sf 16.151)
- California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada
- rare
Rickera
(Rickera sorpta)
(Rickera sorpta)
Leads to Couplet 11:
- Abdomen with longitudinal pigment bands
Couplet 11
Leads to Couplet 19:
- Abdomen usually without longitudinal pigment bands, having various lateral pigment bands, spots, or various other patterns instead However, at least some Skwala may have a longitudinal dorsal stripe on the abdomen
Couplet 19
Leads to Couplet 12:
- Abdomen with pale, median, longitudinal pigment band
Couplet 12
Leads to Couplet 14:
- Abdomen with dark, median, longitudinal pigment band (may be a dark stripe embedded within a light band)
Couplet 14
Leads to Osobenus
(Osobenus yakimae):
(Osobenus yakimae):
- Apical lacinial tooth about as long as rest of lacinia (sf 16.152)
- Mesosternal Y-arms with secondary furrows extending to anterior corners of furcal pits (sf 16.153)
- British Columbia, California, Oregon, Washington
Leads to Couplet 13:
- Apical lacinial tooth much shorter than rest of lacinia (sf 16.154)
- Mesosternal Y-arms lacking secondary furrows extending to anterior corners of furcal pits
Couplet 13
Leads to Isoperla:
- Inner lacinial margin with row of at least 4-5 long setae
- No prominent knob bearing pegs below subapical lacinial tooth (sf 16.155)
- Widely distributed
Leads to Susulus:
- Inner lacinial margin lacking a row of long setae
- Prominent knob below subapical lacinial tooth bearing 3-4 stout peg-like setae (which may appear as a 3rd tooth under low-power magnification) (sf 16.154)
- California
Susulus
Leads to Couplet 15:
- Lacinia quadrate (sf 16.156)
Couplet 15
Leads to Couplet 18:
- Lacinia triangular or subquadrate
Couplet 18
Leads to Couplet 16:
- Lacinia with a dense brush of stout setae (sf 16.156)
- Inner lacinial margin glabrous
Couplet 16
Leads to Couplet 17:
- Lacinia with one or more rows of stout setae (sf 16.155 and 16.157)
- Inner lacinial margin setose
Couplet 17
Leads to Cascadoperla
(Cascadoperla trictura):
(Cascadoperla trictura):
- Apical cercal segments fringed with fine hairs dorsally and ventrally (sf 16.158)
- Western North America
Cascadoperla
(Cascadoperla trictura)
(Cascadoperla trictura)
Leads to Calliperla
(Calliperla luctuosa):
(Calliperla luctuosa):
- Cerci without marginal fringe
- Mesosternal Y-arms enclosing an area of abundant clothing hairs (sf 16.159)
- California, Oregon, Washington
Calliperla
(Calliperla luctuosa)
(Calliperla luctuosa)
Leads to Cosumnoperla:
- Mesosternal Y-arms sinuate (sf 16.161)
- Cerci lacking fine setal fringe
- California
Cosumnoperla
Leads to Couplet 20:
- Mesosternal Y-arms meet or approach anterior corners of furcal pits
- Mandibles deeply cleft, separating teeth into two major cusps
Couplet 20
Leads to Couplet 22:
- Mesosternal Y-arms meet or approach posterior corners of furcal pits
- Mandibles not deeply cleft
Couplet 22
Leads to Frisonia
(Frisonia picticeps):
(Frisonia picticeps):
- Apical lacinial tooth short, much less than 1/3 the outer lacinial length
- Ventral submarginal lacinial setae extending well onto apical tooth as a closely set row (sf 16.164)
- British Columbia, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Frisonia
(Frisonia picticeps)
(Frisonia picticeps)
Leads to Couplet 21:
- Apical lacinial tooth long, greater than 1/3 the outer lacinial length
- Ventral submarginal lacinial setae end at inner base of apical tooth
Couplet 21
Couplet 21 (You are here)
Leads to Skwala:
- Outermost cusp of both mandibles serrate
- Mesal tufts of silky setae on occiput
- Abdominal segments 1–2 divided by pleural fold
- Western North America (the range maps below are off, because they also include compacta)
Leads to Skwala
(Skwala compacta):
(Skwala compacta):
- Outermost cusp of both mandibles unserrated, or with indistinct serrations on left mandible only
- Occiput without mesal tuft of silky setae
- Abdominal segments 1–3 divided by pleural fold
- Western North America and higher latitudes of Eastern North America
Leads to Oconoperla:
- Femora and tibiae without long setal fringe
- Posterolateral margins of pronotum notched
- Southern Appalachians
- Rare
Oconoperla
Leads to Couplet 23:
- Femora or tibiae or both with long setal fringe
- Posterolateral margins of pronotum smoothly rounded
- Widespread
- Some genera common
Couplet 23
Leads to Isogenoides:
- Mesosternum with median longitudinal suture connecting fork of mesosternal Y-arms with transverse suture (sf 16.166)
- Widely distributed
Leads to Couplet 24:
- Mesosternum without median longitudinal suture
Couplet 24
Leads to Couplet 25:
- Submental gills conspicuous, projecting portion usually 2 times or more as long as basal diameter (sf 16.37)
Couplet 25
Leads to Couplet 28:
- Submental gills absent or barely projecting beyond submentum
Couplet 28
Leads to Pictetiella:
- Apical lacinial tooth about half the total outer lacinial length
- Western North America
- Uncommon
Leads to Couplet 26:
- Apical lacinial tooth about 1/3 or less the total outer lacinial length (sf 16.149)
- Eastern North America
- Usually common
Couplet 26
Leads to Malirekus:
- Ventral lacinial surface with a basal patch of about 50 dark clothing hairs (sf 16.149)
Malirekus
Leads to Couplet 27:
- Ventral lacinial surface without dark clothing hairs, a patch of about 10 setae may be present (sf 16.167)
Couplet 27
Leads to Hydroperla:
- Transverse dark pigment band of frons lateral to median ocellus interrupted by circular yellow areas (sf 16.168)
- Ventral lacinial surface with outer patch of about 10 setae (sf 16.169)
- Right mandible with 4 teeth
Leads to Couplet 29:
- Inner lacinial margin with a low knob below subapical tooth (sf 16.149)
Couplet 29
Leads to Couplet 31:
- Inner lacinial margin without a low knob below subapical tooth (sf 16.155)
Couplet 31
Leads to Malirekus:
- Outer ventral lacinial surface with basal patch of about 50 dark clothing hairs (sf 16.149)
- Eastern North America
Malirekus
Leads to Couplet 30:
- Outer ventral lacinial surface with fewer than 50 basal clothing hairs (sf 16.167)
Couplet 30
Leads to Yugus:
- Marginal lacinial setal row extending from near subapical tooth to near base (sf 16.167)
- Labrum with yellow longitudinal mesal band
- Submental gills very short, if present
- Eastern North America
Yugus
Leads to Couplet 32:
- Occiput or anterolateral prothoracic margins or both with a row of short stout setae
Couplet 32
Leads to Couplet 36:
- Occiput and anterolateral prothoracic margins without rows of short, stout setae (a few long setae may be present)
Couplet 36
Leads to Clioperla
(Clioperla clio):
(Clioperla clio):
- Ocellar region transversed by dark band connecting lateral ocelli and eyes but not covering anterior ocellus (sf 16.38); a dark form lacking the light medial area of head, with light M-line
- Abdominal terga with pale media, paired spots
- Eastern North America
Leads to Couplet 33:
- Ocellar triangle more or less covered by dark pigment
- Abdominal terga with 3 pairs pale or dark spot, or lacking such spots
Couplet 33
Leads to Baumannella
(Baumannella alameda):
(Baumannella alameda):
- Outer mandibular cusp serrate
- Abdominal terga with anterior narrow dark mesal bands and conspicuous transverse row of dark spots
- California
Baumannella
(Baumannella alameda)
(Baumannella alameda)
Leads to Couplet 34:
- Major mandibular cusp without serrations
- Abdominal terga with variable color pattern
Couplet 34
Leads to Chernokrilus:
- Mesosternal Y-arms with indistinct anterior extensions which approach furcal pits (sf 16.172)
- California, Oregon
Chernokrilus
Leads to Couplet 35:
- Mesosternal Y-arms without anterior extensions
- Widely distributed
Couplet 35
Leads to Diura:
- Occipital area with a pair of pale oval markings adjacent to compound eyes; posterior margins of ovals marked by dense irregular rows of short, thick setae (sf 16.173)
- Western North America and higher latitudes of Eastern North America
Leads to Diploperla:
- Mesosternal Y-arms without stem and fork (sf 16.175)
- Eastern North America
Diploperla
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References
- Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. 2019. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Fifth Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.