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.

The Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River in Alaska

Stream photos

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Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.

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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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Ptilostomis?

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

Taju
Hartola, Finland

Posts: 11

Taju on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 7:46 am EST

I guess that this is Ptilostomis, according to the web-pages. But what is the species name (ocellifera??)?

Jukka

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 7:54 am EST

Certainly looks like Ptilostomis, but I'm not sure I know how to distinguish the species. Wait for Dave on that score.

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 8:14 am EST

While the photo is not as good as the previous (the wing venation/coloration is not in focus) I don't believe it is ocellifera as as my specimens of ocellifera are generally paler and with less wing coloration than the other two likely species (postica and semifasciata). I would not feel comfortable using just size and color to separate these species. I think you need to take a good look at the private parts to be sure.

There is an excellent source for this family:

Wiggins, G.B. 1998. The caddisfly family Phryganeidae (Trichoptera. University of Toronto Press. 306pp.

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 10:18 am EST

Jukka,

Ethan Bright's website gives keys for Ptilostomis to the species level (based on the Wiggins reference that Creno mentions):

http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/~ethanbr/aim/Keys/Trichoptera/id_tom_phryganeidae_ptilostomis.html