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 Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.

7 Recently Added Photos

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.

Apataniidae?

This topic is about the Caddisfly Family Limnephilidae

This huge family appropriately contains huge caddisflies. Many of its genera are important, but the western genus Dicosmoecus (the Giant Orange Sedge or October Caddis) is especially important as a big-trout hatch.

Limnephilidae contains so many species that it is difficult to generalize about them all. LaFontaine commented on the task in Caddisflies:

The fact that fly fishermen need broad principles of biology, not a collection of exceptions, makes it difficult to handle this family.

I recommend learning which genera or species are prevalent in your area and studying them specifically.

Example specimens

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Female Dicosmoecus gilvipes (October Caddis) Caddisfly Adult

Female Dicosmoecus gilvipes (Limnephilidae) (October Caddis) Caddisfly Adult from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington

I've been hoping to add a really good October Caddis to the photo collection here for years, but so far I had struck out on finding them on the river. Tonight, this one flew into the kitchen during a pizza party at a house along the river, and was quickly pointed out -- one of the perks of hanging out with other aquatic biologists! Maybe next year I can finally get a salmonfly on taco night or something.

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Limnephilus (Summer Flier Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Case view of a Limnephilus (Limnephilidae) (Summer Flier Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

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Limnephilus (Summer Flier Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

This seems to be a young larva of Limnephilus. Although not clear in the picture, several ventral abdominal segments have chloride epithelia.

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Oct 8, 2006October 8th, 2006, 1:19 pm EDT

I believe the genus Apatania is in its own family--Apataniidae. Also, because not all Limnephilidae are "giants," the most frequently used common name for this family is "Northern Caddisflies."

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Oct 9, 2006October 9th, 2006, 5:12 am EDT

Thanks. I've just made all those changes. I hadn't seen the "Northern Caddisfly" name before.

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Taxon

Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311

Taxon on Oct 9, 2006October 9th, 2006, 5:44 am EDT

Gonzo & Jason-

Northern Casemakers is the common name I've more often seen family Limnephilidae called.

Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Oct 9, 2006October 9th, 2006, 8:04 am EDT

Roger's right, "Casemakers" is probably more common, but both are used. (Actually, I included both in my original post, but edited out "Casemakers" when I couldn't remember if it was one word, two words, or hyphenated. I didn't want to make an incorrect correction.) I've also seen "Diverse Caddisflies," which certainly fits this vast and confusing family.