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.
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This specimen appears to be of the same species as this one collected in the same spot two months earlier. The identification of both is tentative. This one suffered some physical damage before being photographed, too, so the colors aren't totally natural. I was mostly photographing it to test out some new camera setting idea, which worked really well for a couple of closeups.
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Silver Striped Sedges
This common name refers to only one genus. Click its scientific name to learn more.
Caddisfly Genus Hesperophylax
These are often called Silver Striped Sedges.
These are very large caddisflies, up to 1.3 inches long as adults.
Based on both range maps and key characteristics, this larva is either Hesperophylax designatus, Hesperophylax alaskensis, or Hesperophylax occidentalis. However, the species key in Parker & Wiggins (1985) cannot separate these species as larvae.
References
- Parker, C. R., Wiggins, G. B. 1985. The Nearctic Caddisfly Genus Hesperophylax Banks (trichoptera: Limnephilidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 63(10): 2443-2472.