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.

Stream photos

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Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Ventral view of a Hydropsyche (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

With a bit of help from the microscope, this specimen keys clearly and unsurprisingly to Hydropsyche.

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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.

Rheotanytarsus Midge Larva Pictures

This peculiar midge lived in a case tightly fixed to a rock, with several others of its kind. The case seems to be made of tiny grains of sand. I'm not sure what the function is for the little lines sticking out the front, because they aren't legs.

Here's a natural view of this specimen still attached to its rock quite tightly. You can faintly see the "corners" on the top of the case, which is not a smooth curve, but is somewhat trapezoidal in cross-section.

Case view of a Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York

A millimeter ruler overlaid by the case.

Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York

I removed the case from its rock to expose this, the underside.

Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York

Here's what lived inside.

Dorsal view of a Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York

Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York

I don't think we'll need to be imitating this species anytime soon, but it's still a neat insect.

Ruler view of a Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.

This midge was collected from Cayuta Creek in New York on April 14th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 22nd, 2007.

Discussions of this Larva

lines on front

1 replies

Posted by Mike28 on Mar 27, 2014

Last reply on Mar 28, 2014 by Entoman

I have a small tank with some of these on the rocks and noticed the midges coming out and cleaning the lines so I talked to my stream ecology professor and he told me I have rheotanytarsus and along those lines there are small lines of silk that they use to collect food just in case anyone was still wondering.

Midge

3 replies

Posted by DMM on Apr 22, 2007

Last reply on Apr 23, 2007 by Troutnut

I believe this is Rheotanytarsus

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