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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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.
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.
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Identification: Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, Couplet 7
Identification: Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, Couplet 7
Error: Tried to access a key that isn't live.
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 |
|---|---|
| Anal claws each with 2 or 3 dorsal accessory spines (sf 19.390, spines tiny and difficult to see with dissecting microscope, sometimes broken) | Anal claws each with only 1 dorsal accessory spine (sf 19.392) |
| Capture net bowl- or funnel-shaped with tubular retreat perpendicular to it in middle and supported by maze of silken threads in surrounding vegetation | Capture net silken, tent-like, covering depression in wood or rock, with flared opening at each end |
| Central, North | Central, East |
1 Example Specimen
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
| |
| Holocentropus | Cernotina No further information about this genus is available on Troutnut.com at this time. |
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:
- Anal claws each with 6 or fewer conspicuous teeth along ventral, concave margin (sf 19.387, 19.388)
- Silken retreat forming rectangular tent over depression in wood or rock, open at two ends
Couplet 2
Leads to Couplet 3:
- Anal claws without ventral teeth (sf 19.389, 19.390, 19.392, 19.393) or each with 10 or more tiny spines (sf 19.391) along ventral, concave margin
Couplet 3
Leads to Nyctiophylax:
- Teeth on anal claw much shorter than apical hook, dorsal accessory spine present (sf 19.65, 19.388)
- Pronotum with short, stout bristle near each lateral margin (sf 19.394)
- Widespread except not Southwest
Leads to Polyplectropus:
- Teeth on each anal claw almost as long as apical hook, dorsal accessory spine absent (sf 19.387)
- Pronotum without short, lateral bristles
- Southwest
Polyplectropus
Leads to Neureclipsis:
- Basal segment of each anal proleg about as long as distal segment and with only 2 or 3 apicoventral setae (sf 19.391)
- Anal claw with many tiny spines along ventral, concave margin (sf 19.391 inset)
- Larvae as in sf 10.167 Silken retreat trumpet-shaped, recurved, up to 12 cm long, slender basally and broad apically, with 3–4 cm opening facing current (sf 19.37) Widespread except not Southwest
Leads to Couplet 4:
- Basal segment of each anal proleg obviously longer than distal segment in mature specimens and with many setae scattered over most of its ventral and dorsal surfaces (sf 19.392, 19.393)
- Anal claw without tiny ventral spines (sf 19.392, 19.393)
Couplet 4
Leads to Couplet 5:
- Dorsal region between anal claw and sclerite of distal segment of each anal proleg with 2 dark bands contiguous mesally (sf 19.392 inset)
- Mesonotal sa1 and metanotal sa1 setae short, not more than 1/3 as long as longest sa2 setae (sf 19.397)
Couplet 5
Leads to Cyrnellus
(Cyrnellus fraternus):
(Cyrnellus fraternus):
- Dorsal region between anal claw and sclerite of distal segment of each anal proleg with 2 dark bands completely separated mesally (sf 19.393 inset)
- Mesonotal sa1 and metanotal sa1 setae about as long as longest sa2 setae (sf 19.398)
- Silken retreat similar to that of Nyctiophylax, but more nearly circular Central, East
Cyrnellus
(Cyrnellus fraternus)
(Cyrnellus fraternus)
Leads to Polycentropus:
- Prothoracic tarsi broad and only 1/2 as long as prothoracic tibiae (sf 19.395)
- Silken retreat bag-like structure expanded by current
Leads to Couplet 6:
- Prothoracic tarsi narrow and at least 2/3rds as long as prothoracic tibiae (sf 19.396)
Couplet 6
Leads to Plectrocnemia:
- Anal claws obtusely curved (sf 19.389)
- Capture net loosely constructed, flat, spider-like, with funnel-shaped silken retreat in middle, surrounded by maze of silken threads Widespread except not Southwest
Plectrocnemia
Leads to Couplet 7:
- Anal claws curved approximately 90º (sf 19.392)
Couplet 7
Couplet 7 (You are here)
Leads to Holocentropus:
- Anal claws each with 2 or 3 dorsal accessory spines (sf 19.390, spines tiny and difficult to see with dissecting microscope, sometimes broken)
- Capture net bowl- or funnel-shaped with tubular retreat perpendicular to it in middle and supported by maze of silken threads in surrounding vegetation
- Central, North
Leads to Cernotina:
- Anal claws each with only 1 dorsal accessory spine (sf 19.392)
- Capture net silken, tent-like, covering depression in wood or rock, with flared opening at each end
- Central, East
Cernotina
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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.