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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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Male Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult Pictures

Key characteristics verified under the microscope:
-The head has 3 ocelli.
-Maxillary palp has 5 segments, with the second segment rounded. In some of the pictures it looks like 6 with the 3rd segment rounded, but the basal "segment" in that case isn't part of the palp.
-Foretibiae lack preapical spurs.
-Pronotum with mesal setose warts widely spaced.

All of this very clearly indicates Glossosomatidae. Beyond there:

-The tibial spur counts (fore / middle / hind tibiae) are 2, 4, and 4.
-From the pictures, the hind wing discoidal cell is closed, not open. Subfamily Glossosomatinae.
-The upper and lower parts of the mesepisternum are separated by a constriction, not a transverse suture. Microscope picture included.

This leads to a very confident genus ID of Glossosoma. I don't have the information to take it to species.

Lateral view of a Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
Ventral view of a Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
Ruler view of a Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
The closed discoidal cell in each hind wing is boxed in purple.

Dorsal view of a Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
Red boxes are placed around the setal warts on the pronotum, which are almost fully covered by other features. Yellow boxes highlight the difficult-to-see ocelli.

Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington
A box is placed around the constriction in the mesepisternum that separates the genus Glossosoma from a close relative.

Male Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Cedar River in Washington

This caddisfly was collected from the Cedar River in Washington on July 2nd, 2021 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 4th, 2021.


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Male Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult Pictures

Collection details
Location: Cedar River, Washington
Date: July 2nd, 2021
Added to site: July 4th, 2021
Author: Troutnut
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