Not a Salmonfly

Here are a few more of my favorite bug photos from this past summer:

Isogenoides colubrinus (adult male)

Isogenoides colubrinus (larval exuvia - the white filaments are the
linings of the tracheal tubules that are shed upon emergence)

Isogenoides colubrinus is one of the larger stoneflies that emerges on the North Saskatchewan River downstream from Drayton Valley (this one was photographed at Victoria Park in Edmonton). These large stoneflies are often mistaken for Salmonflies by local fly anglers dreaming of more trouty waters.



Here's looking forward to a new year of fly fishing, photography, and videography (along with the usual outdoor adventures). My hopes are to be more active in the blogosphere than this past year, and to share more of my adventures with others.

Happy New Year to All, and all the best in 2013!!

Cheers,
Rob

Arachnophobia

Over the summer I managed to photograph a fair number of interesting bugs. One of the most entertaining was a Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton) that I spotted along the edge of a local lake.

 

 

Dolomedes have apparently been known to capture small fish; and they do venture underwater on occasion – but most of their time is spent on the surface hiding amongst shoreline vegetation waiting to pounce on any unsuspecting bugs that wander within range. In this case, the victim was a Water Boatman (Family: Corixidae) that was darting to the surface to replenish its air supply. The spider moved with lightning fast speed; and before I could blink, it had scurried out, plucked the Corixid from the water, and returned to its perch to feed.

 

Dolomedes triton feeding on a Corixid