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 a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Billq on Aug 2, 2009August 2nd, 2009, 2:00 pm EDT
Hello, I am new to the entomology of aquatic insects. I do enjoy spending time on this site learning about the things I am fishing with. I am confused by the terms used for nymph and larvae. It seems people use the words interchangeably as if they are the same thing. Is this the case? If you take a look at
http://www.flyfishingnc.com/fly-bugs/entomology/caddisfly-entomology
they show a yellow caddis larvae and the little green rock worm they call a caddis nymph. Thank you for your help.
bill
http://www.flyfishingnc.com/fly-bugs/entomology/caddisfly-entomology
they show a yellow caddis larvae and the little green rock worm they call a caddis nymph. Thank you for your help.
bill
Creno on Aug 2, 2009August 2nd, 2009, 3:22 pm EDT
in general, entomologists in the US use nymph for the non-egg immature stages of hemimetabolous insects. Larvae are the feeding, non-egg immature stages of holometabolous. Stoneflies have eggs, nymphs, and adults (hemimetabolous). Caddisflies have eggs, larvae, pupae and adults (holometabolous). You will still see them both used inconsistently in the fishing literature. And you will often see larva used by entomologists for immature hemimetabolous insects in other countries.
Shawnny3 on Aug 6, 2009August 6th, 2009, 3:46 am EDT
I'm certainly no entomologist, but the distinction easiest for me to remember between these is that the insects that go through a larval stage undergo complete metamorphosis in becoming adults, and those that go through a nymphal stage undergo incomplete metamorphosis. As a fisherman this means to me that nymphs generally look like the adults of that species, whereas larva look way different from the corresponding adults. Even more crudely speaking, the more insect-looking ones are nymphs and the more wormy looking ones are larva.
I'm sure there are lots of entomological shortcomings in my assessment, but that's how I think of them from a flyfishing standpoint.
-Shawn
I'm sure there are lots of entomological shortcomings in my assessment, but that's how I think of them from a flyfishing standpoint.
-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
www.davisflydesigns.com
Martinlf on Aug 6, 2009August 6th, 2009, 2:57 pm EDT
So, Shawn, most of my nymph imitations are actually larvae imitations. :)
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Creno on Aug 6, 2009August 6th, 2009, 4:58 pm EDT
And all my flies look like worms :)
Billq on Aug 12, 2009August 12th, 2009, 2:35 am EDT
thank you so much for your replies.
bill
bill
Cassias
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
Cassias on Oct 30, 2018October 30th, 2018, 11:29 am EDT
wow this was a long time ago
do you know what fortnite is?
do you know what fortnite is?
Wbranch on Nov 5, 2018November 5th, 2018, 3:42 am EST
do you know what fortnite is?
Yes, I know what it is, why did you ask?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
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