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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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.
— 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.
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This specimen seems to be of the same species as a dun I photographed which emerged from another nymph in the same sample.
Taxon on Jun 5, 2007June 5th, 2007, 9:52 am EDT
Maccaffertium is a Latinized version of the name of the world-renowned mayfly systematist, W. Patrick McCafferty. And, mediopunctatum is constructed from roots of medi- meaning middle, and punct- meaning point, so I assume this species has some distinctive feature midpoint in its anatomy. Assuming my logic is valid, perhaps someone else can tell you what the feature is.
The distribution of this species is confined to the states and provinces lying east of the N. American continental divide.
The distribution of this species is confined to the states and provinces lying east of the N. American continental divide.
Quillgordon on Jun 5, 2007June 5th, 2007, 11:37 am EDT
Taxon,
OK....... I understood the Maccaffertium, but didn't get the 'mediopunctatum' ending. I had two years of German, but no Latin.
This one has a mark down the center of its back( dorsal), maybe that has some relevenance. I don't recall that particular marking on my specimens, but they have those distinctive markings on the belly(ventral side). I find those markings very interesting.
John...
OK....... I understood the Maccaffertium, but didn't get the 'mediopunctatum' ending. I had two years of German, but no Latin.
This one has a mark down the center of its back( dorsal), maybe that has some relevenance. I don't recall that particular marking on my specimens, but they have those distinctive markings on the belly(ventral side). I find those markings very interesting.
John...
Flyfishing is a state of mind! .............. Q.g.
C/R........barbless
C/R........barbless
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