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.

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Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This species was fairly abundant in a February sample of the upper Yakima.

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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.

What are they doing to each other?

Willy has attached this picture. The message is below.

Willy

Chicago, IL

Posts: 47

Willy on Jun 7, 2006June 7th, 2006, 8:31 am EDT

Check out my fishing pictures on Instagram.

Taxon

Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311

Taxon on Jun 8, 2006June 8th, 2006, 7:12 pm EDT

Willy-

Perhaps they're grooming one another to get some nourishment before returning home. So, what insect order do you think they are? Are they aquatic or terrestrial?

EDIT: 06/09/2006 21:25 PDT

Willy-

Oh well, if you won't talk to me, guess I can always talk to myself.

The insects are:
Order: Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
Suborder: Apocrita (Ants, Bees and Wasps)
Superfamily: Apoidea (Bees)
Family: Andrenidae (Mining Bees)
Genus: (probably) Andrena

I believe the redhead to be a male, but one would need to count antennal segments to be sure. Males have 13 antennal segments, and females have 12.

Here is the URL for what one looks like closer up: http://static.flickr.com/45/130985530_85274519e7_o.jpg

Hope you will find this information as rewarding as was my pursuit of it.

Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com