Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

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.

For how many years, I wonder, have these huge slabs of rock sheltered wild brook trout?

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

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Amphizoa Beetle Larva Amphizoa Beetle Larva

Dorsal view of a Amphizoa (Amphizoidae) Beetle Larva from Sears Creek in Washington

This is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).

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27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.

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Stonefly Genus Leuctra (Needleflies)

Ernest Schwiebert notes in Matching the Hatch that trout are very fond of these uncommon stoneflies when they are available.

Where & when

In 26 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have been collected during June (42%), August (27%), May (19%), and July (12%).

In 8 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 52 to 4203 ft, with an average (median) of 1394 ft.

Genus Range

source

Map of specific collection sites

Start a Discussion of Leuctra

References

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.
Schwiebert, Ernest G. 1955. Matching the Hatch. MacMillan Publishing Company.