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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Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.

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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.

caddis pupa

LittleJ
Hollidaysburg Pa

Posts: 251

LittleJ on May 16, 2010May 16th, 2010, 11:18 am EDT

So while flipping rocks today I had an interesting find. There were caddis pupa tethered to the bottom of the rock in what looked like a clear tube. To the people that know about these types of things. Would this be the pupal case they make after leaving their rock case, right before they emerge? Or could their case have broken apart and this would be what they would look like inside their case. Either way it was cool to get a look at a caddis pupa unharmed prior to emergance.

Jeff

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on May 16, 2010May 16th, 2010, 3:08 pm EDT

Was the "case" tan colored, and sorta inflated like a balloon? If so, sounds like a Rhyacophila pupa. Search on Rhyacophila above for a picture. The "case" is a cocoon that the larva makes within the actual pupal case. A couple families (rhyacophilds, glossosomatids hydrobiosids) make these internal cocoons within the case. The fact that you found just the case suggests a rhyacophild since they make very loose collections of stones for their pupal case. Often the case is connected to a couple rocks so when you pick up a rock the case separates stays with one rock and the pupal cocoon is still attached to another. If your critter didn't have the tan cocoon let us know and I will make another guess :-)

LittleJ
Hollidaysburg Pa

Posts: 251

LittleJ on May 16, 2010May 16th, 2010, 3:17 pm EDT

Thanks creno! I don't believe that the case was Tan. It really just looked like a clear plastic tube. However the Ryachophila sounds good enough for me.

Thanks

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on May 16, 2010May 16th, 2010, 3:43 pm EDT

If it was a tube, with a hole at either, or both ends, it probably wasn't a rhyacophilid. Rhyacophila cocoon are pretty distinctive and Jason's picture is very good.
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/560