Header image
Enter a name
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.
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 Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

I collected a female dun on the same day that probably belongs to the same species as this spinner. It keys pretty clearly to Epeorus pleuralis among the species given in the key in Taxonomy of Epeorus Frisoni (burks) And a Key to New England Species Of Epeorus.

Lateral view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
Artistic view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
The body length is about 9.5 mm. Wings probably 8.5-9 mm.

Ruler view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
This dorsal view actually give a better view of the genitalia for identification than the ventral closeup.

Dorsal view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
Ventral view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York

This mayfly was collected from Enfield Creek in Treman Park in New York on May 15th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18th, 2007.


Start a Discussion of Spinner

References

Male Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Collection details
Location: Enfield Creek in Treman Park, New York
Date: May 15th, 2007
Added to site: May 18th, 2007
Author: Troutnut
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy