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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Identification: Key to Species of Caudatella Nymphs, Couplet 3
Adapted from Jacobus 2010 (2010)
| Option 1 | Option 2 |
|---|---|
| Cerci approximately two thirds length of median filament | Cerci less than one-half length of median filament |
| Abdominal sterna with solid color, never with longitudinal stripes or other such markings | Abdominal sterna almost always with three dark, longitudinal markings |
| Remaining species: Caudatella columbiella Caudatella heterocaudata | |
| Caudatella jacobi | Go to Couplet 4 |
Adapted from Jacobus 2010 (2010)
The current couplet is highlighted with darker colors and a icon, and couplets leading to this point have a icon.
Maxillary palp vestigial; tarsal claw with two prominent rows of denticles
Maxillary palp with three distinct segments; tarsal claw with only one distinct row of denticles
Couplet 2
Paired medial spines on abdominal terga long and curved (at least on middle segments), some almost hook like
Paired medial spines on abdominal terga relatively straight, none longer than respective segment
Couplet 3
Cerci approximately two thirds length of median filament
Abdominal sterna with solid color, never with longitudinal stripes or other such markings
Abdominal sterna with solid color, never with longitudinal stripes or other such markings
Cerci less than one-half length of median filament
Abdominal sterna almost always with three dark, longitudinal markings
Abdominal sterna almost always with three dark, longitudinal markings
Couplet 4
Cerci approximately one-third length of median filament (about the length of the abdomen)
Distinct pair of medial spines present only on abdominal terga 2–9, with the spine tips blunt
Distinct pair of medial spines present only on abdominal terga 2–9, with the spine tips blunt
Cerci approximately one-sixth length of median filament (about half the length of the abdomen)
Distinct pair of medial spines present on abdominal terga 1–9, with the spine tips sharp
Distinct pair of medial spines present on abdominal terga 1–9, with the spine tips sharp
References
- Jacobus, Luke M. 2010. Taxonomic Review of the Caudatella heterocaudata (McDunnough) and C. hystrix (Traver) Complexes (Insecta: Ephemeroptera: Ephemerellidae). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology 2010: 1-5.
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum
Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class
Insecta (Insects)
» Order
Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
» Genus
Caudatella