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 is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Stonefly Genus Neoperla (Golden Stones)
Genus Range
Identification
To determine whether a specimen of Perlidae belongs to Neoperla, use the Key to Genera of Perlidae Nymphs.
Start a Discussion of Neoperla
References
- Jacobus, L. M., Wiersema, N.A., and Webb, J.M. 2014. Identification of Far Northern and Western North American Mayfly Larvae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera), North of Mexico; Version 2. Joint Aquatic Science meeting, Portland, OR. Unpublished workshop manual. 1-176.
- Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. 2019. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Fifth Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
Stonefly Genus Neoperla (Golden Stones)
Taxonomy
Species in Neoperla: Neoperla coosa, Neoperla stewarti
13 species (Neoperla carlsoni, Neoperla catharae, Neoperla choctaw, Neoperla clymene, Neoperla coxi, Neoperla falayah, Neoperla gaufini, Neoperla harpi, Neoperla harrisi, Neoperla mainensis, Neoperla occipitalis, Neoperla osage, and Neoperla robisoni) aren't included.