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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 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.
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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Ameletus (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph Pictures

I spent ages trying to identify this one but ultimately couldn't narrow it down to species. I'm guessing it's either a species that has not yet been reported from Idaho or a species with some variation in characteristics not accounted for in the current key (Zloty 1997), which is only for Alberta but happens to contain all the species documented in Idaho except for one (which is rare and only in a different part of the state from this one).

Here are my raw notes from the microscope session:

8. Ameletus nymph (genus 100 % based on mouth parts under microscope)
1. This is probably a species with the nymph either not described yet or not reported in Idaho (or Alberta).
2. There is a key to the species of nymphs in Alberta (Zloty 1997) which includes all but one (A. tolae) of the species listed in Idaho by IDFG (https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/taxa/8607), and A. tolae is only listed from one drainage in north-central Idaho. So my specimen should be in that key. However, it doesn’t fit any of them.
1. The antennae are pale with brown at the apex. This doesn’t fit any of the species they described.
2. The labrum is almost completely dark brown, maybe a bit paler toward the apex.
3. Following the key in Zloty 1997 basically rules out every species reported in Idaho except for tolae, which would be outside its range:
1. Couplet 1 : There definitely aren’t strong ganglionic markings on sternites 2-8 (100 % rules out similior and celer) —> 3
2. Couplet 3 : Posterior margins of sternites 6-8 lack large spines (80 % sure) but other characteristics rule out the species if there were spines (validus, oregonensis, subnotatus) —> 6
3. Couplet 6 : Mesal gill extension present, but pretty slim… similar to Fig. 23B or 23G —> 7
4. Couplet 7 : Obviouly gos to 8
5. Couplet 8 : Small size and time of year rules out velox, tergite patterna and gill shape rules out pritchardi (which is not reported in Idaho anyway). Additional features (antennae, labrum color) rule out a small velox.
6. Backtrack to call the mesal gill extension “well developed” —> 9
7. Couplet 9 : Tail coloration obviously —> 10
8. Couplet 10 : Supposing it’s a small specimen of a “larger species” leads to 11, in which femora coloration and timing rule out vernalis, and color pattern rules out bellulus. Mesal extension on gills from species description very conclusively rules out bellulus. Therefore, calling it a “smaller species” is the correct path —> 12
9. Couplet 12 : Sternites without well-defined longitudinal stripe —> cooki. However, tergite color patterns don’t even come close to matching ANY of the 3 species from this point on (cooki, sparsatus, suffusus). From the species descriptions:
1. cooki: Antenna and labrum colors don’t fit. Mesal extension should be larger and tracheation lighter, to be this species.
2. sparsatus: Antenna and labrum colors don’t fit. Mesal extension should be larger. Postero-lateral spines should be very prominent, not barely noticeable.
3. suffusus: Also bad fit to antenna and labrum colors, mesal extension, and especially gill tracheation.

In another specimen with intact tails, all three were about the same length.

Ameletus (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Green Lake Outlet in Idaho
Ameletus (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Green Lake Outlet in Idaho
Dorsal view of a Ameletus (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Green Lake Outlet in Idaho
Ameletus (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Green Lake Outlet in Idaho
Ameletus (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Green Lake Outlet in Idaho
Ruler view of a Ameletus (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Green Lake Outlet in Idaho The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.

This mayfly was collected from Green Lake Outlet in Idaho on August 4th, 2020 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on August 20th, 2020.


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Ameletus (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: Green Lake Outlet, Idaho
Date: August 4th, 2020
Added to site: August 20th, 2020
Author: Troutnut
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