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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.

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.
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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Mayfly Species Drunella walkeri (Large Blue-Winged Olives)

Ernest Schwiebert had this to say about the hatches of this chunky Eastern Drunella (Blue-Winged Olive) species:

An imitation is rarely required, but notes show that when it is needed it is needed badly.


See the Drunella and Drunella cornuta hatch pages for additional information.

Where & when

Conflicting accounts of the emergence dates for this species abound in literature. In Matching the Hatch, Ernest Schwiebert says they emerge in late May and early June. He was probably speaking from his knowledge of Eastern rivers. The Leonards in Mayflies of Michigan Trout Streams give emergence dates of June 26-July 24 for Michigan. This species may vary between East and Midwest like other Drunella species.

In 7 records from GBIF, adults of this species have been collected during July (57%) and June (43%).

In 1 record from GBIF, this species has been collected at elevation of 1339 ft.

Species Range

Hatching behavior

Time of day : Morning

Drunella walkeri emerges in the same manner as the rest of the Drunella genus.

Spinner behavior

The spinner falls of this species are probably unimportant.

Nymph biology

The nymphs are at home in fast riffles and slow backwaters alike. They are the closest in appearance to their large Western siblings the Western Green Drakes. Their stout bodies are easily distinguishable from other Eastern members of this genus.

Identification

To determine whether a specimen of Drunella belongs to Drunella walkeri, use the Key to Species of Drunella Nymphs.

Physical description

Most physical descriptions on Troutnut are direct or slightly edited quotes from the original scientific sources describing or updating the species, although there may be errors in copying them to this website. Such descriptions aren't always definitive, because species often turn out to be more variable than the original describers observed. In some cases, only a single specimen was described! However, they are useful starting points.

Male Spinner

Described in Needham et al (1935) as Ephemerella fuscata
Body length: 8 mm
Wing length: 8 mm

A blackish, yellow-legged species; imago very similar to E. tuberculata (now a synonym for Drunella tuberculata), but smaller, more slender, with fewer dark femoral dots, and no ventral dark dots.

Head and thorax deep blackish brown. Fore femur and tibia deep brown; tarsus deep amber brown. Middle and hind legs yellowish, the femora heavily shaded with ruddy brown. All femora sprinkled rather sparsely with black dots. Wings hyaline; venation pale yellowish. Abdomen deep smoky brown; middle segments semi-translucent, apical segments opaque, deeper brown. Basal and middle sternites somewhat paler than the tergites; dark triangles in the antero-lateral angles, but no curved row of dark dots. Tergites rather unicolorous, but somewhat paler laterally. Tails yellowish, joinings unmarked. Genitalia very similar to E. tuberculata (now a synonym of Drunella tuberculata) (see fig. 153).

Nymph

Described in Needham et al (1935) as Ephemerella fuscata
Body length: 6-7 mm

Nymph very close to E. wayah (now a synonym of Drunella walkeri), but distinguished by the presence of a lateral prothoracic tubercle, wider femora and shorter dorsal spines.

Head of nymph with broad frontal shelf, notched on each side to receive the bases of the antennae (see fig. 151 c). No occipital tubercles; head somewhat roughened. A single small prothoracic tubercle on each side near the middle of the lateral margin. Anterior margin of fore femur with spines. All femora very much flattened, the posterior margin with a wide backward extension. Head, legs and body very hairy. Dorsal spines very minute. Ventral surface of abdomen rather less hairy than in E. wayah; no adhesive disc. General color pale greyish to deep olive brown; thorax, tibiae and tarsi with suffused darker markings. Usually a mid-dorsal row of dark blotches on the abdomen; ventrally, a lateral row of dark streaks on each side, but no curved row of dark dots between, as in E. tuberculata (now a synonym of Drunella tuberculata). Tails short, pale.

Described as E. wayah

Body length 6-7 mm

A member of the fuscata group (now a synonym of Drunella walkeri), and closely related to E. fuscata (now a synonym of Drunella walkeri). Distinguished from this species in the nymphal stage by the lack of prothoracic tubercles, better developed abdominal spines, slightly narrower femora, and somewhat longer tibial thumb. Head of nymph (see fig. 158 a) with a broad frontal shelf, widely notched on each side to receive the bases of the antennae. Frontal horns barely indicated. No occipital tubercles. All femora much flattened, but without the wide prominent posterior extension of E. fuscata; fore femur with spines on the anterior margin. Tibial spine almost one-third as long as the tarsus; blunt, stout, better developed than in fuscata (see fig. 159). Legs and entire body very hairy. No prothoracic tubercles, as in fuscata. Dorsal spines present,—not conspicuous, but better developed than in fuscata. Sternite 9 and the lateral margins of 3-8, very hairy, forming a very incomplete adhesive disc. General color (in life) grey-green; yellowish brown in alcohol. Marked irregularly with dark brown on legs, head, thorax and abdomen; tergites 8-10 usually yellowish. Abdominal sternites yellow; a lateral row of dark marks on each side, much as in E. serrata (now a synonym of Serratella serrata).


Start a Discussion of Drunella walkeri

References

Mayfly Species Drunella walkeri (Large Blue-Winged Olives)

Taxonomy
Species Range
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