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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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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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Millcreek has attached these 13 pictures. The message is below.
Agapetus larva. 5 mm. In alcohol. Collected March 29, 2013.
Larval case. Dorsal view. 7 mm. In alcohol. Collected March 29, 2013.
Larval case. Ventral view. 7 mm. In alcohol. Collected March 29, 2013.
Case of prepupa. 8 mm. In alcohol. Collected March 29, 2013.
Prepupa in case. Case 8mm. Prepupa 6 mm. In alcohol. Collected March 29, 2013.
Immature pupa in cocoon. 6 mm. In alcohol. Collected March 29, 2013.
Immature pupa in cocoon. 6 mm. In alcohol. Collected March 29, 2013.
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Oct 9, 2014October 9th, 2014, 4:36 pm EDT
Agapetus larvae are abundant in the Russian River, being most common in March and April. Usually found on top of gravel and cobble in a slow to moderate current and fairly shallow water. Pupae are found attached to the sides and tops of large gravel and cobble. Larvae were identified to genus using Merritt, Cummins and Berg (2008) and Wiggins (1996). Pupae were identified to family using MCB and identified to genus by association with the larvae.

The larval cases have a small piece of silk at each end on the ventral surface that close when the larvae is entirely inside the case. They can be seen in the photo showing the bottom of the case.

The pupal cases don't have stones on the bottom but are attached directly to the rock. There is a silk cocoon which is only attached to the case at each end, all other surfaces are unattached.

I haven't collected adults so have no idea what the species is.

EDIT - Photos of mature pupae added 7/7/15
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Oct 9, 2014October 9th, 2014, 6:10 pm EDT
No mature pupae? Not alot is known about the western species. Little critters that emerge early. Dave Etnier et al recently described many new species from the east. He focused on collecting early in the season.
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Oct 9, 2014October 9th, 2014, 6:44 pm EDT
Didn't have any mature pupae in the vials I got out today. I've got a couple more sets of samples and will check for mature pupae. If I find any I'll add them to this post. Kind of got side tracked looking for Capnia umpqua at the same time these little fellows were around.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Oct 9, 2014October 9th, 2014, 9:17 pm EDT
I can understand that :-)
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Oct 10, 2014October 10th, 2014, 9:12 am EDT
Looked at the paper by Dave Etnier et al. A lot of work done there. Looks like some good info on rearing the critters. I see you have one of the Agapetus named after you, A. ruiteri. Looks like you're immortalized, at least until the next taxonomic revision.:)
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Jul 7, 2015July 7th, 2015, 9:04 am EDT
Nice pics as usual. Great example of the midge being carried around, and probably benefiting while not harming the caddis (commensal/phoresy). The pupae is a male and mature enough to determine to species. From here it looks close to Agapetus celatus but the dorsum is off and the proportions don't seem right.
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Jul 7, 2015July 7th, 2015, 9:32 am EDT
I can send you a few if you'd be interested.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

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