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 keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.
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Needleflies
Like most common names,"Needlefly" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 2 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.
Stonefly Family Leuctridae
These are often called Needleflies.
Leuctra is the only genus of any known importance to trout anglers. Their wings are rolled to a needle-like point; hence the common name, needle flies.
This is one of rarest stoneflies in western Montana. It is a bit unusual that it is fairly abundant in a handful of streams that empty into the east side of Flathead Lake. A very beautiful bug.
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Stonefly Genus Leuctra
These are often called Needleflies.
Ernest Schwiebert notes in Matching the Hatch that trout are very fond of these uncommon stoneflies when they are available.
Stonefly Genus Megaleuctra
These are often called Needleflies.
This is one of rarest stoneflies in western Montana. It is a bit unusual that it is fairly abundant in a handful of streams that empty into the east side of Flathead Lake. A very beautiful bug.
Stonefly Genus Perlomyia
These are often called Needleflies.
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References
- Schwiebert, Ernest G. 1955. Matching the Hatch. MacMillan Publishing Company.