Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Hex Mayflies
Hexagenia limbata

The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.

Stream photos

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Clostoeca disjuncta (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva Clostoeca disjuncta (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva

Lateral view of a Clostoeca disjuncta (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

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.

11 Recently Added Photos

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.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Female Leptophlebia (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun Pictures

I collected this mayfly after user Al514 tipped me off to the presence of some Leptophlebia mayflies I didn't seem to have yet with his ID request of a male dun. This seems to be of the same species. I also collected a female spinner. Based on that spinner, I can tell that this is either Leptophlebia cupida or Leptophlebia nebulosa, but I can't tell which.

Unfortunately none of the specimens I collected made it through the hot, sunny day very well. So the pictures aren't great, but they're better than nothing.

Ventral view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York

Lateral view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York

Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York

Dorsal view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York

This specimen is on the left in this picture. On the right is another one I collected but didn't otherwise photograph. It's from the same stream and time, and presumably of the same species. It shows quite a bit of natural variation.

Ruler view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.

This specimen (left) pictured next to a smaller one of apparently the same species (right).

Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York

This mayfly was collected from Factory Brook in New York on May 9th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18th, 2007.

Discussions of this Dun

Borcher's Drake

3 replies

Posted by Oldredbarn on May 10, 2010

Last reply on May 13, 2010 by TNEAL

I will apologise up front here for railing on about another "Michigan" thing, but here goes...There is a rather famous fly from the Au Sable area originally put together by Ernie Borchers called the Borchers Drake and it was designed to cover this bug. Originally the abdomen was wrapped condor quill but wrapped natural turkey tail fibers are used now. The tail is three moose mane fibers tied longer than normal and on these specimens of Jason's you can see why that works. It's tied in a Catskill style or as a parachute pattern. Hackle is Adams style and the wing is light blue dun...Have at it!

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