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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.

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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.
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Dicosmoecus gilvipes (Limnephilidae) (October Caddis) Caddisfly Adult from the Touchet River in Washington
Gutcutter
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Pennsylvania

Posts: 470
Gutcutter on Sep 8, 2011September 8th, 2011, 2:40 pm EDT
Is this the same large caddis that hatches in early October in Central PA? I don't recall them being that "orange", but the size is about right.
All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad.

-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Sep 8, 2011September 8th, 2011, 3:55 pm EDT
Tony-

Dicosmoecus is a genus found in the Pacific (NW and SW). You may be thinking of Pycnopsyche, a fall emerger in PA.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Sayfu
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Sep 8, 2011September 8th, 2011, 3:57 pm EDT
Dunno about Penn., but sure looks like Dicosmoecus that hatches out on many of our Western rivers. A popular steelhead pattern is an elk-haired skittered, swinging dry tied with a burnt orange body is how we describe the body color..tied on a #6 steelhead hook, or there abouts. It is also a very popular pattern for trout in a slightly smaller pattern fished mainly dead drifted. I generally see the adults on the water later in the day.

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Re: October Caddis Featured Topic
In the Caddisfly Genus Dicosmoecus by Taxon
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