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.
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This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
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Ecdyonurus criddlei (Little Slate-Winged Dun) Mayfly Nymph Pictures
This is an interesting Heptageniid mayfly since in western Montana it is only found in cold lakes, especially those in Glacier National Park.
This mayfly was collected from Kintla Lake in Montana on July 31st, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Bnewell on June 26th, 2011.
Discussions of this Nymph
Ecdyonurus nymphs
Posted by Jmw975 on Dec 11, 2012
Last reply on Dec 11, 2012 by Jmw975
Hi all,
These specimens are in great shape!
the lower nymph in this photo is definitely not E. criddlei, but E. simplicoides. E. simplicioides has that distinctive color pattern with the pair of rectangular pale markings on tergum 4 and no median markings on the other terga.
The upper specimen is probably E. criddlei, but seems to have more extensive pale markings than specimens from further west.
cheers,
Jeff
These specimens are in great shape!
the lower nymph in this photo is definitely not E. criddlei, but E. simplicoides. E. simplicioides has that distinctive color pattern with the pair of rectangular pale markings on tergum 4 and no median markings on the other terga.
The upper specimen is probably E. criddlei, but seems to have more extensive pale markings than specimens from further west.
cheers,
Jeff