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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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.
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Identification: Key to Genera of Rhyacophilidae Adults, Couplet 1
Identification: Key to Genera of Rhyacophilidae Adults, Couplet 1
Adapted from Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019)
This couplet refers figures (usually designated 'sf') from this source.
You will need the source (make sure to get the same edition!) to see them.
This couplet refers figures (usually designated 'sf') from this source.
You will need the source (make sure to get the same edition!) to see them.
| Option 1 | Option 2 |
|---|---|
Mesoscutellum without long hairs 
| Mesoscutellum with tuft of long, fine hairs |
| Forewings each less than 20 mm long | Forewings each more than 20 mm long |
| Widespread | Pacific states |
| Adults as in sf 10.191 | |
1 Example Specimen | |
| Rhyacophila | Himalopsyche Species Himalopsyche phryganea |
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.
Couplet 1 (You are here)
Leads to Rhyacophila:
- Mesoscutellum without long hairs
- Forewings each less than 20 mm long
- Widespread
- Adults as in sf 10.191
Leads to Himalopsyche
(Himalopsyche phryganea):
(Himalopsyche phryganea):
- Mesoscutellum with tuft of long, fine hairs
- Forewings each more than 20 mm long
- Pacific states
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References
- Baumann, Richard W. 1975. Revision of the Stonefly Family Nemouridae (plecoptera) : a Study Of The World Fauna At The Generic Level. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology undef(211): 1-74.
- 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.