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 specimen keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.
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I still haven't got my good camera gear set up, but I wanted to get my first Alaskan bug specimen online, so I photographed this one with my point+shoot in the raft.
Pauly
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
Pauly on May 26, 2011May 26th, 2011, 4:56 am EDT
I would like to thank you for taking the time to photograph and post these beautiful pictures. I'm 64 years old, and an avid fly fisherman. My new hobbie is taking pics of mayflies, and I'm getting excited. I've got a new tripod on order, and an excellent camera. I would find it a pleasure to share my photo's with everyone.
PaulRoberts on May 26, 2011May 26th, 2011, 8:08 am EDT
Welcome. Would LOVE to see what your photos. I use photos for reference in tying mostly. But images like Jason's doddsi are just nice to see and make me appreciate the world all the more.
Troutnut on May 26, 2011May 26th, 2011, 3:16 pm EDT
Yes Pauly, I'm really interested to see your photos!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist