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.
Most physical descriptions on Troutnut are direct or slightly edited quotes from the original scientific sources describing or updating the species, although there may be errors in copying them to this website. Such descriptions aren't always definitive, because species often turn out to be more variable than the original describers observed. In some cases, only a single specimen was described! However, they are useful starting points.
Source: A review of the Nearctic genus Zealeuctra Ricker (Plecoptera, Leuctridae), with the description of a new species from the Cumberland Plateau region of eastern North America
Description. Male - abdominal tergal cleft. Anterior portion U-shaped and very broadly rounded, posterior portion narrowing distally to a pair of medial projections, the terminal projection larger, subtruncate, and thumb-like, the subterminal projection smaller and subtriangular (Fig. 2 A). Crenulations absent from inner margins of cleft. Male - epiproct. Broad at base, extending posteriorly along one plane then extended abruptly and dorsally at a ca. 90 degree angle (Fig. 2 B), spine tip slightly recurved anteriorly. No accessory spine or cusp present.
Female - 7 th sternum. Seventh sternum with a small, subtriangular lobe nested in a distinct central notch (Fig. 2 C).