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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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 Genus Hydatophylax (Giant Cream Pattern-Wing Sedges)

These are huge caddisflies. The larvae may be nearly an inch and a half long and build three-inch cases. Hook sizes 4-6 are appropriate for the pupae.

Where & when

Time of year : Late May to fall in the East; August to October in the West

Preferred waters: Medium to large streams

In 69 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during June (46%), July (22%), May (19%), and August (7%).

In 14 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 33 to 2740 ft, with an average (median) of 2008 ft.

Genus Range

Hatching behavior

Time of day : Morning

Trout may feed on the pupae of this genus.

Egg-Laying behavior

The egg-laying adults are not important.

Larva & pupa biology

Diet: Woody debris

Current speed: Slow

Specimens of the Caddisfly Genus Hydatophylax

1 Female Adult

Start a Discussion of Hydatophylax

References

Caddisfly Genus Hydatophylax (Giant Cream Pattern-Wing Sedges)

Taxonomy
Species in Hydatophylax: Hydatophylax argus, Hydatophylax hesperus
2 species (Hydatophylax variabilis and Hydatophylax victor) aren't included.
Genus Range
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