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 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.
- 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.
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See the forum comments for notes on the identification of this specimen.
DMM
Posts: 34
Posts: 34
DMM on Apr 22, 2007April 22nd, 2007, 5:53 pm EDT
This is a uenoid. I know the genus, but I can't think of it now...sorry, I'll try to remember to look it up if no one else knows it.
David
Taxon on Apr 22, 2007April 22nd, 2007, 6:47 pm EDT
David-
Probably Neophylax (Autumn Mottled Sedge). This genus has four species in NY. Most likely it’s N. concinnus, as this is the only one (of those four) that Gary LaFontaine considered to be sufficiently important to flyfishers to include in his book. However, the other NY resident species are N. consimilis, N. fuscus, and N. oligius.
Probably Neophylax (Autumn Mottled Sedge). This genus has four species in NY. Most likely it’s N. concinnus, as this is the only one (of those four) that Gary LaFontaine considered to be sufficiently important to flyfishers to include in his book. However, the other NY resident species are N. consimilis, N. fuscus, and N. oligius.