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.

I like this one. Glacial river, taiga, tundra, and the perpetual ice cover of a massive high ridge dozens of miles away in the Wrangell Mountains.

From the Copper River in Alaska

Stream photos

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Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington

This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.

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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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Caddisfly Species Hydroptila consimilis (Varicolored Microcaddisflies)

Where & when

Time of year : Early summer

In 87 records from GBIF, adults of this species have mostly been collected during July (30%), June (29%), August (16%), May (13%), and September (7%).

In 37 records from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevations ranging from 3 to 7054 ft, with an average (median) of 1096 ft.

Species Range

source

Map of specific collection sites

Larva & pupa biology

Environmental tolerance: Prefers clean forest streams

Start a Discussion of Hydroptila consimilis

References

LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.