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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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Zugbuggin
Douglasville, Ga

Posts: 3
Zugbuggin on Mar 9, 2012March 9th, 2012, 3:29 pm EST
Do Early Blacks hatch as traditional Stoneflys do by crawling out of the water before shedding the nymph shuck or do they hatch as most Mayflies do by swimming to the surface and sheading the nymph shuck at the surface or like Quill Gordons do sheading the nymph shuck on the bottom then swimming to the surface??? I have heard all three several times just wanting to know which is true.
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Mar 9, 2012March 9th, 2012, 3:50 pm EST
They crawl out of the water, or right along the shoreline. I have never heard of a stonefly that hatches in the water like mayflies. See Troutnut's stonefly section http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/13/Insect-Plecoptera-Stoneflies.

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