Midwestern salmonfly (Pteronarcys pictetii) naiad near Cardinal Marsh IA 653A9821
This Midwestern salmonfly naiad is an amazing aquatic insect. It lives under rocks or leaf litter in pristine streams with sluggish water flow for two to three years before transforming into an adult during early summer. Even though this immature salmonfly looks ferocious, it only eats detritus such as decaying leaves. Winged adults that can fly around only live for two weeks or so in the summer and do not even feed.
Midwestern salmonfly (Pteronarcys pictetii) naiad near Cardinal Marsh IA 653A9821
This Midwestern salmonfly naiad is an amazing aquatic insect. It lives under rocks or leaf litter in pristine streams with sluggish water flow for two to three years before transforming into an adult during early summer. Even though this immature salmonfly looks ferocious, it only eats detritus such as decaying leaves. Winged adults that can fly around only live for two weeks or so in the summer and do not even feed.