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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Millcreek on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:07 pm EDT
These nymphs are abundant in the Russian River from April to June. I've keyed them out to Nixe using Merritt, Cummins and Berg but have been unable to ID them to species. The only Nixe species I've been able to find recorded from California is N. kennedyi but the nymphs are not described and I haven't collected any adults in the area. Does anybody know anything more about the nymphs?
The nymphs seem to have two distinct pattern types. Not sure if that's just a color variation or whether they could be two different species. Photos show the two variations.
The nymphs seem to have two distinct pattern types. Not sure if that's just a color variation or whether they could be two different species. Photos show the two variations.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Creno on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:28 pm EDT
Millcreek - are you collecting both forms at the same time/place? creno
Millcreek on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:33 pm EDT
Dave - Yes, although variation #2 tends to show up about a week later. I've often collected both forms off the same rock.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Entoman on Sep 26, 2014September 26th, 2014, 8:14 pm EDT
I can't make out the mouthparts but the head spots and small lateral spines clearly agree with your assessment. Perhaps the difference between the two is due to dimorphism.
"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
Millcreek on Sep 27, 2014September 27th, 2014, 7:46 am EDT
Perhaps the difference between the two is due to dimorphism.
It could be. Either two variations in the same species or differences between male and female. Probably more likely than two species. Separating the two variations and rearing the mature nymphs should provide answers. Hope to be set up next year for rearing nymphs.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
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