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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This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Taxon on Mar 11, 2009March 11th, 2009, 3:40 am EDT
Keith-
I would say neither. I believe the mayfly photo you posted to be of an Ameletus oregonensis male imago. Where and when was the photo taken?
I would say neither. I believe the mayfly photo you posted to be of an Ameletus oregonensis male imago. Where and when was the photo taken?
Calloway on Mar 11, 2009March 11th, 2009, 3:41 am EDT
Upstate SC a few days ago
Taxon on Mar 11, 2009March 11th, 2009, 5:35 am EDT
Keith-
Well, in that case, it may another species of Ameletus, as I believe distribution of A. oregonensis is limited to the NW. The only Ameletus species I know of in SC is A. cryptostimulus, but unfortunately, I don't have access to a description of it, as it was first recognized in 1978, 43 years after publication of The Biology Of Mayflies, the text I most heavily rely on for mayfly species descriptions.
Well, in that case, it may another species of Ameletus, as I believe distribution of A. oregonensis is limited to the NW. The only Ameletus species I know of in SC is A. cryptostimulus, but unfortunately, I don't have access to a description of it, as it was first recognized in 1978, 43 years after publication of The Biology Of Mayflies, the text I most heavily rely on for mayfly species descriptions.
Troutnut on Mar 11, 2009March 11th, 2009, 10:12 am EDT
None of the above. It's a "pseudo-gray drake," in the genus Siphloplecton. Compare with this one:
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/253
I don't know how to tell the species apart. Siphloplecton basale seems to be the one most often mentioned in fly fishing books, but based on the distribution maps it seems some other species are more likely for your area.
The size and very early time of year match the Siphloplecton specimens I've collected.
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/253
I don't know how to tell the species apart. Siphloplecton basale seems to be the one most often mentioned in fly fishing books, but based on the distribution maps it seems some other species are more likely for your area.
The size and very early time of year match the Siphloplecton specimens I've collected.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
GONZO on Mar 11, 2009March 11th, 2009, 10:16 am EDT
Keith,
I believe this is Siphloplecton basale. Ameletus would have a sharper costal angulation on the hindwing. The dark areas in the bulla and the stigmatic regions of the forewing and the dark basal 1/3rd of the hindwing are characteristics of S. basale.
I believe this is Siphloplecton basale. Ameletus would have a sharper costal angulation on the hindwing. The dark areas in the bulla and the stigmatic regions of the forewing and the dark basal 1/3rd of the hindwing are characteristics of S. basale.
Troutnut on Mar 11, 2009March 11th, 2009, 10:20 am EDT
Ooh! I win by 4 minutes! ;)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Taxon on Mar 11, 2009March 11th, 2009, 12:10 pm EDT
Ah, and I stand corrected.
Troutnut on Mar 12, 2009March 12th, 2009, 8:13 pm EDT
Calloway, did you have good fishing to this hatch? When I've seen them, their numbers are always too few to provide any action on their own. They overlapped with the Hendricksons sometimes, though.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Martinlf on Mar 13, 2009March 13th, 2009, 10:32 am EDT
OK, I see Gonzo is coming out of skiing exile. Glad to have you back on. Check your PM's.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
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