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.

Stream photos

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Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

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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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.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Caddisfly Species Macrostemum zebratum (Zebra Caddisflies)

The "Zebra Caddis" is one of the most well-known caddisfly species, and one of the largest to produce high intensity hatches on our trout streams.

It is also an important species for smallmouth bass. Gary LaFontaine wrote in Caddisflies about encountering Macrostemum zebratum on a large smallmouth river:

I never caught so many smallmouth bass on a fly rod before in my life.

Where & when

Time of year : June through September; peaks before mid-July

Preferred waters: Large rivers

This species is usually found in large, thermally marginal trout streams, or in tailwaters which used to have that character.

In 95 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during June (32%), July (29%), August (25%), and May (8%).

In 13 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 92 to 12631 ft, with an average (median) of 512 ft.

Species Range

source

Map of specific collection sites

Discussions of Macrostemum zebratum

Zebra Caddis

1 replies

Posted by Lastchance on Aug 4, 2008

Last reply on Aug 4, 2008 by Taxon

Is there a photo of one? I've never heard of them or perhaps I know them by a different name.

Start a Discussion of Macrostemum zebratum

References

LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.
Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.