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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Philopotamidae Caddisfly Larva Pictures

Ventral view of a Philopotamidae Caddisfly Larva from Cascadilla Creek in New York
Dorsal view of a Philopotamidae Caddisfly Larva from Cascadilla Creek in New York

This caddisfly was collected from Cascadilla Creek in New York on March 13th, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 5th, 2006.

Discussions of this Larva

Psychomyiidae
11 replies
Posted by Mlajoie on Mar 19, 2008
Last reply on Mar 20, 2012 by Entoman
This is not a Philopotamid. It is Psychomyiidae and it looks like Lype sp. but it is hard to see the sclerites on the mentum. It would be easy to ID with a close-up of the anal claws and ventral side of the head. Lype does not have long ventral teeth on the claws like Psychomyia sp., ventral teeth on the anal claws, that is.
add-on
Posted by Mlajoie on Mar 19, 2008
Last reply on Mar 19, 2008 by Mlajoie
ventral teeth on the anal claws, that is.

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References

Philopotamidae Caddisfly Larva Pictures

Collection details
Location: Cascadilla Creek, New York
Date: March 13th, 2005
Added to site: April 5th, 2006
Author: Troutnut
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