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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.

Lateral view of a Psychodidae True Fly Larva from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington
This wild-looking little thing completely puzzled me. At first I was thinking beetle or month larva, until I got a look at the pictures on the computer screen. I made a couple of incorrect guesses before entomologist Greg Courtney pointed me in the right direction with Psychodidae. He suggested a possible genus of Thornburghiella, but could not rule out some other members of the tribe Pericomini.
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.

Identification: Key to Genera of Rhyacophilidae Adults

Identification: Key to Genera of Rhyacophilidae Adults

Adapted from Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019)
This couplet refers figures (usually designated 'sf') from this source.
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Option 1Option 2
Mesoscutellum without long hairs
Figure from this Rhyacophila adult.
Mesoscutellum with tuft of long, fine hairs
Forewings each less than 20 mm longForewings each more than 20 mm long
WidespreadPacific states
Adults as in sf 10.191
1 Example Specimen
Rhyacophila Himalopsyche
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Couplet 1

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Couplet 1 (You are here)
Leads to Rhyacophila:
  • Mesoscutellum without long hairs
  • Forewings each less than 20 mm long
  • Widespread
  • Adults as in sf 10.191
Leads to Himalopsyche
(Himalopsyche phryganea):
  • Mesoscutellum with tuft of long, fine hairs
  • Forewings each more than 20 mm long
  • Pacific states

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References

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