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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.

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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Female Rhithrogena hageni (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun Pictures

I was surprised by the olive cast on the body of this female Rhithrogena dun, which led me to mistake it for a western green drake (Drunella) in the field. I was pleasantly surprised to get a closer look and find something I hadn't collected yet. Its species ID is based on proximity to male spinner collected on the same trip, as well as physical similarity (size, tergite coloration, dark streaks on the femora) to that specimen.

Female Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington
Female Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington
Female Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington
Dorsal view of a Female Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington
Ventral view of a Female Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington
Ruler view of a Female Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Lateral view of a Female Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington

This mayfly was collected from Mystery Creek #249 in Washington on July 4th, 2020 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 12th, 2020.


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Female Rhithrogena hageni (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Dun Pictures

Collection details
Location: Mystery Creek #249, Washington
Date: July 4th, 2020
Added to site: July 12th, 2020
Author: Troutnut
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