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.

Looking across Island Lake toward the Titcomb Basin—one of the popular crown jewels of the Wind River Mountains

From Island Lake in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

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.

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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.

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Some Trichoptera

Taju has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.

Taju
Hartola, Finland

Posts: 11

Taju on Nov 14, 2008November 14th, 2008, 11:29 pm EST

Hi,

is it possible to identify this species from Kentucky, 24.9.2007? The winglength is about 17 mm.

Jukka

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 3:26 am EST

Jukka, the pattern on the wings looks like Agrypnia vestita to me, but that's a guess. Dave Ruiter (Creno) is the caddisfly expert. Perhaps he will take a look at your specimen.

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 3:55 am EST

Like Gonzo, I would guess Agrypnia vestita based on color and location. However I looked at alot of A.vestita specimens (and a few other Agrypnia species) and could not find one with the apical fork of hindwing R2 that appears to occur in your photo. Is that fork really there or could it be a fold from spreading?

Taju
Hartola, Finland

Posts: 11

Taju on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 7:34 am EST

Many thanks for your comments :)
To Creno: the fork is not real, it is a shadow, because the surface is not smooth.

Jukka