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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It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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Opossum Shrimp
This common name refers to only one order. Click its scientific name to learn more.
Arthropod Order Mysida
These are often called Opossum Shrimp.
Mysis shrimp also commonly known as opossum shrimp for the way they carry their broods, can be important to anglers as a curious bi-product of fisheries management practices. Fish and Game departments looking for a way to supplement the diets of planted kokanee salmon introduced these species from the Far North decades ago into many of the newly formed reservoirs. While not providing angling opportunities in the impoundments, they are often trapped in the dam's turbines and flushed down the tailwaters by the millions to feed the waiting trout. Their stunned or dead state makes them easy pickings. When these events occur the fish will really focus on them.
Mysida are not true shrimp and their appearance is unique. The species most commonly planted are virtually crystal clear transparant and they are more nymph shaped than shrimp shaped. Their legs are toward the front and they have a carapace that covers the head and thoracic segments. They also have appendages off the last abdominal segment that could be mistaken for tails. They have dark compound eyes.
Mysida are not true shrimp and their appearance is unique. The species most commonly planted are virtually crystal clear transparant and they are more nymph shaped than shrimp shaped. Their legs are toward the front and they have a carapace that covers the head and thoracic segments. They also have appendages off the last abdominal segment that could be mistaken for tails. They have dark compound eyes.