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 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.
- 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.
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Xavier_Carp has attached these 4 pictures to aid in identification. The message is below.
Xavier_Carp
Posts: 13
Posts: 13
Xavier_Carp on Aug 27, 2007August 27th, 2007, 11:55 am EDT
Can you give me a clue about this dragon fly nymphs??
Taxon on Aug 28, 2007August 28th, 2007, 11:30 am EDT
Xavier_Carp-
If I were to hazard a guess, it would be that the 1st and 3rd photos might be of family Aeshnidae, and that the 2nd and 4th photos might be of family Libellulidae. Both families are most commonly collected along the edges of lakes and ponds. However, identifying dragonfly nymphs is much more difficult if photographed out of the water, and even more so, if they have not reached full maturity.
Hopefully, someone here will be more experienced identifying dragonflies, and can give you more than my admittedly lame guesses.
If I were to hazard a guess, it would be that the 1st and 3rd photos might be of family Aeshnidae, and that the 2nd and 4th photos might be of family Libellulidae. Both families are most commonly collected along the edges of lakes and ponds. However, identifying dragonfly nymphs is much more difficult if photographed out of the water, and even more so, if they have not reached full maturity.
Hopefully, someone here will be more experienced identifying dragonflies, and can give you more than my admittedly lame guesses.
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