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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.

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.
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.
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Millcreek has attached these 14 pictures. The message is below.
Mid-instar larvae. Collected May 6, 2007. Larvae 6 mm. Cases 6 mm.
Mature larvae. Collected June 13, 2007. Larvae 10 mm. Cases 12 mm.
Mature larva. Collected June 13, 2007. Larva 10 mm. Case 12 mm.
Mature larva. Collected June 13, 2007. Larva 10 mm. Case 12 mm.
Prepupa. 9 mm. Collected September 14, 2007.
Prepupal, pupal case. 12 mm. Dorsal view. Collected September 14, 2007.
Prepupal, pupal case. 12 mm. Ventral view. Collected September 14, 2007.
Mature pupa. 11 mm. Collected August 25, 2007.
Mature pupa. 11 mm. Collected August 25, 2007.
Mature pupa. 11 mm. Collected August 25, 2007.
Mature pupae. 11 mm. Collected August 25, 2007.
Pupa exuvia. Approximately 10 mm. Collected August 28, 2007.
Closeup of thoracic area.
Closeup of thoracic area.
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Nov 25, 2014November 25th, 2014, 3:54 pm EST
I haven't found these in the mainstem of the Russian River but they're abundant in a small tributary of the Russian, Mill Creek. The larvae are usually found in areas of slow water with healthy growths of diatoms on the substrate. Larvae are common from mid-spring through mid to late summer, depending on water temperatures. The larvae can often be seen above the waterline on rocks, presumably grazing on dried diatoms. They're seldom more than a few inches above the waterline but can spend half an hour or more out of the water. Prepupae and pupae can be found in medium to large aggregations on cobble from early summer to the first floods. When the larvae construct their pupal cases they enter a state of diapause as prepupae for several weeks to several months.

There are at least three species of Neophylax in California, Neophylax occidentis, N. rickeri and N. splendens. Wiggins (1996) described the larvae of N. rickeri but I've been unable to find descriptions of the other two species.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Nov 25, 2014November 25th, 2014, 4:15 pm EST
try this - Vineyard, R.N., Wiggins, G.B., Frania, H.E., Schefter, P.W. 2005. The caddisfly genus Neophylax (Trichoptera: Uenoidae). Royal Ontario Museum, Contributions in Science 2: 1-141.

If you can get a good closeup image of the pro/mesonotum like in your image 3 should be able to determine species.
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Nov 25, 2014November 25th, 2014, 4:21 pm EST
Dave,
Damn, you're fast. Just finished this and already an answer. I'll try hunting up the paper and checking it out. Thanks.
Mark
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Nov 27, 2014November 27th, 2014, 9:30 am EST
try this - Vineyard, R.N., Wiggins, G.B., Frania, H.E., Schefter, P.W. 2005. The caddisfly genus Neophylax (Trichoptera: Uenoidae). Royal Ontario Museum, Contributions in Science 2: 1-141.


Got an email from Creno including illustrations of Neophylax occidentis, N. rickeri and N. splendens from the publication above. These specimens appear to be Neophylax rickeri as far as I can determine.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

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