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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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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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Female Drunella doddsii (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun Pictures

I still haven't got my good camera gear set up, but I wanted to get my first Alaskan bug specimen online, so I photographed this one with my point+shoot in the raft.

Female Drunella doddsii (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Gulkana River in Alaska
Lateral view of a Female Drunella doddsii (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Gulkana River in Alaska
Female Drunella doddsii (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Gulkana River in Alaska
Female Drunella doddsii (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Gulkana River in Alaska
Female Drunella doddsii (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Gulkana River in Alaska
Female Drunella doddsii (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Gulkana River in Alaska
Ventral view of a Female Drunella doddsii (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Gulkana River in Alaska

This mayfly was collected from the Gulkana River in Alaska on July 8th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 19th, 2007.

Discussions of this Dun

Anyone know your western Drunella species?
23 replies
Posted by Troutnut on Jul 19, 2007
Last reply on Apr 12, 2012 by Entoman
Which one is this? It's from a south-central Alaskan river.
great photo's
2 replies
Posted by Pauly on May 26, 2011
Last reply on May 26, 2011 by Troutnut
I would like to thank you for taking the time to photograph and post these beautiful pictures. I'm 64 years old, and an avid fly fisherman. My new hobbie is taking pics of mayflies, and I'm getting excited. I've got a new tripod on order, and an excellent camera. I would find it a pleasure to share my photo's with everyone.

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Female Drunella doddsii (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun Pictures

Collection details
Location: Gulkana River, Alaska
Date: July 8th, 2007
Added to site: July 19th, 2007
Author: Troutnut
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