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 one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
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Caddisfly Family Uenoidae
Taxonomic History
Every Uenoidae genus used to be in the family Limnephilidae, but in 1985 they were reclassified into their own family. Unspecified aspects of their behavior are probably similar to Limnephilidae. The two most important genera to anglers were recently moved to the family Thremmatidae.
Family Range
2 Underwater Pictures of Uenoidae Caddisflies:
A variety of cased caddisfly larvae, probably mostly Neophylax, have clustered along the backside of a rock in fast water. There seem to be some Helicopsychidae larvae clustered along the bottom, and a few other taxa are mixed in. It's interesting that several larvae have especially large stones placed over the front openings of their cases, perhaps to block the case off for pupation.
It does seem to be the wrong time of year for Neophylax to be pupating, but that was the ID given for one of these which I collected and photographed up close.
It does seem to be the wrong time of year for Neophylax to be pupating, but that was the ID given for one of these which I collected and photographed up close.
A wide variety of caddis larvae and other insects have clustered together on the backside of this rock in fast water.
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Neophylax (Autumn Mottled Sedge).
Discussions of Uenoidae
Former classification
2 replies
Posted by Troutnut on Jul 24, 2006
Last reply on Jul 24, 2006 by Troutnut
In Caddisflies, LaFontaine mentions Neophylax as a member of the Limnephilidae family. The family Uenoidae is in the same superfamily as Limnephilidae, so I'm wondering if it was a recent split and all the genera used to be in Limnephilidae. I couldn't find anything in a quick web search... anybody know?