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.

Outlet stream of Upper Titcomb Lake

From Titcomb Basin 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.

Mix-up

Siphlonurus autumnalis (Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

1 Picture

Siphlonurus autumnalis (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph from Crazy Beaver Spring in Montana

Collected August 30, 2007 from Crazy Beaver Spring in Montana

Added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

Collected August 30, 2007 from Crazy Beaver Spring in Montana and added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Jul 2, 2011July 2nd, 2011, 8:35 am EDT

I've really been enjoying looking at Dr. Newell's additions to the "Aquatic Insect Encyclopedia," but there seems to have been some sort of mix-up here. The 2nd photograph is an female ephemerellid dun, possibly something like Ephemerella tibialis.

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Jul 2, 2011July 2nd, 2011, 2:38 pm EDT

Looks like tibialis to me also, but I can't find where the photos are associated other than in this thread. As I write this the dun photo disappeared so I think Jason's on it Lloyd.

Kurt

"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Jul 2, 2011July 2nd, 2011, 3:09 pm EDT

The dun photo's still there. I sent Bob an email about it. I didn't want to delete it until he sees which one is in the wrong place, so it's easy for him to put it back online in the right place.

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist