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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Nymphs of this species were fairly common in late-winter kick net samples from the upper Yakima River. Although I could not find a key to species of Zapada nymphs, a revision of the Nemouridae family by Baumann (1975) includes the following helpful sentence: "2 cervical gills on each side of midline, 1 arising inside and 1 outside of lateral cervical sclerites, usually single and elongate, sometimes constricted but with 3 or 4 branches arising beyond gill base in Zapada cinctipes." This specimen clearly has the branches and is within the range of that species.
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Caddisfly Genus Limnephilus (Summer Flier Sedges)
This prolific genus is most important in lakes, spring ponds, and beaver ponds, but some of its species do well enough in spring creeks and slow pools to be important to trout there.
Where & when
Most of these species emerge in late spring or early summer, but the adults are not mature (sort of like mayfly duns, except they don't need to molt again). They mature over the summer and mate in the fall.
According to Swisher and Richards in Selective Trout, some Limnephilus species are multibrooded, with one spring generation and one fall generation. This seems very strange for a large caddisfly, and I wonder if they mistook the spring emergence and fall egg-laying for different broods.
In 1967 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during August (27%), July (24%), June (18%), September (15%), October (7%), and May (5%).
In 1099 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from -30 to 38927 ft, with an average (median) of 1047 ft.
Genus Range
Egg-Laying behavior
LaFontaine writes in Caddisflies that they lay their eggs "near the water."Larva & pupa biology
Shelter type: Thick tubes of stone, sand, bark, or wood
Specimens of the Caddisfly Genus Limnephilus
1 Adult
1 Male Adult
1 Female Adult
5 Larvae
This seems to be a young larva of Limnephilus. Although not clear in the picture, several ventral abdominal segments have chloride epithelia.
This caddis is one of the most abundant caddisflies in temporary ponds of Glacier Park. The larvae build a round case of detritus and dead plant material that can get quite large.
Start a Discussion of Limnephilus
References
- Baumann, Richard W. 1975. Revision of the Stonefly Family Nemouridae (plecoptera) : a Study Of The World Fauna At The Generic Level. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology undef(211): 1-74.
- LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.
- Schwiebert, Ernest G. 1955. Matching the Hatch. MacMillan Publishing Company.
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.
Caddisfly Genus Limnephilus (Summer Flier Sedges)
Taxonomy
Species in Limnephilus
Limnephilus externus
3
7
Limnephilus frijole
1
1
Limnephilus indivisus
0
0
Limnephilus sericeus
0
0
Limnephilus spinatus
0
0
Limnephilus submonilifer
0
0
Limnephilus thorus
0
0
Species in Limnephilus: Limnephilus externus, Limnephilus frijole, Limnephilus indivisus, Limnephilus sericeus, Limnephilus spinatus, Limnephilus submonilifer, Limnephilus thorus
102 species (Limnephilus abbreviatus, Limnephilus acnestus, Limnephilus acrocurvus, Limnephilus acula, Limnephilus adapus, Limnephilus ademus, Limnephilus alberta, Limnephilus alconura, Limnephilus alvatus, Limnephilus apache, Limnephilus aretto, Limnephilus argenteornatus, Limnephilus argenteus, Limnephilus arizona, Limnephilus assimilis, Limnephilus atercus, Limnephilus bifidus, Limnephilus bucketti, Limnephilus canadensis, Limnephilus castor, Limnephilus catula, Limnephilus cerus, Limnephilus challisa, Limnephilus chavas, Limnephilus chilcotinensis, Limnephilus cockerelli, Limnephilus coloradensis, Limnephilus concolor, Limnephilus congener, Limnephilus diphyes, Limnephilus dispar, Limnephilus diversa, Limnephilus ectus, Limnephilus elongatus, Limnephilus extractus, Limnephilus fagus, Limnephilus femoralis, Limnephilus fenestrata, Limnephilus fumosus, Limnephilus gioia, Limnephilus granti, Limnephilus hageni, Limnephilus harrimani, Limnephilus hyalinus, Limnephilus infernalis, Limnephilus innuitorum, Limnephilus insularis, Limnephilus isobela, Limnephilus janus, Limnephilus kalama, Limnephilus kennicotti, Limnephilus labus, Limnephilus litha, Limnephilus loloensis, Limnephilus lopho, Limnephilus lunonus, Limnephilus miser, Limnephilus moestus, Limnephilus morrisoni, Limnephilus moselyi, Limnephilus neoacula, Limnephilus nigriceps, Limnephilus nimmoi, Limnephilus nogus, Limnephilus occidentalis, Limnephilus ornatus, Limnephilus pallens, Limnephilus partitus, Limnephilus parvulus, Limnephilus peltus, Limnephilus perjurus, Limnephilus perpusillus, Limnephilus picturatus, Limnephilus plaga, Limnephilus productus, Limnephilus rhombica, Limnephilus rohweri, Limnephilus rossi, Limnephilus rothi, Limnephilus sackeni, Limnephilus saltus, Limnephilus samoedus, Limnephilus sansoni, Limnephilus santanus, Limnephilus secludens, Limnephilus selatus, Limnephilus sierrata, Limnephilus sitchensis, Limnephilus solidus, Limnephilus stigma, Limnephilus sublunatus, Limnephilus susana, Limnephilus sylviae, Limnephilus taloga, Limnephilus taronus, Limnephilus tarsalis, Limnephilus toussainti, Limnephilus tulatus, Limnephilus uintah, Limnephilus valhalla, Limnephilus vernalis, and Limnephilus whiteheadi) aren't included.