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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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.
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Stonefly Species Capnia gracilaria (Little Snowflies)
Where & when
According to Swisher and Richards in Selective Trout, this is the most abundant species of stonefly in the West.In 16 records from GBIF, adults of this species have been collected during April (31%), March (31%), February (25%), May (6%), and January (6%).
In 1 record from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevation of 248 ft.
Species Range
Start a Discussion of Capnia gracilaria
References
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.
Stonefly Species Capnia gracilaria (Little Snowflies)
Species Range
Common Names
Resources
- NatureServe
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility
- Described by Claassen, P.W. (1924) New species of North American Capniidae (Plecoptera). The Canadian Entomologist 56, 54–57.