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 one was surprisingly straightforward to identify. The lack of a sclerite at the base of the lateral hump narrows the field quite a bit, and the other options followed fairly obvious characteristics to Clostoeca, which only has one species, Clostoeca disjuncta.
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Tuckcast
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Tuckcast on Jul 14, 2019July 14th, 2019, 7:22 am EDT
I took these from the mouth of a trout I caught in Oil Creek in
NW PA. I occasionally find these in the mouths of fish in this stream. These bugs were out of water for about 8 hrs when I remembered about them. As soon
as I put them in water 2 of them just took off swimming. The 3rd one had expired. What I’d like to know is: Are these fish food or parasites of some sort? The large one is about a size 18 nymph hook.
NW PA. I occasionally find these in the mouths of fish in this stream. These bugs were out of water for about 8 hrs when I remembered about them. As soon
as I put them in water 2 of them just took off swimming. The 3rd one had expired. What I’d like to know is: Are these fish food or parasites of some sort? The large one is about a size 18 nymph hook.
Taxon on Jul 14, 2019July 14th, 2019, 2:44 pm EDT
Hi Tuckcast-
Welcome to this site, :-)
Welcome to this site, :-)
Millcreek on Jul 14, 2019July 14th, 2019, 2:46 pm EDT
I think they may be Argulus americanus. It's a parasite. Further information can be found here;
https://www.google.com/search?q=argulus+americanus&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlqZmv8bXjAhWLQs0KHTibAX4QsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25#img
https://www.google.com/search?q=argulus+americanus&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlqZmv8bXjAhWLQs0KHTibAX4QsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25#img
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Tuckcast
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Tuckcast on Jul 15, 2019July 15th, 2019, 12:04 am EDT
Thanks so much for the ID. I
Guess I won’t bother trying to tie an imitation.
Guess I won’t bother trying to tie an imitation.