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 is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Ton
Posts: 4
Posts: 4
Ton on Sep 14, 2007September 14th, 2007, 7:45 am EDT
I hope I'm not too off-topic. How do you search this site within posts or just posts titles,or just postings by specific posters? The google engine directed at troutnut.com recovers everything on the site.
Thanks,
ton
Thanks,
ton
Troutnut on Sep 14, 2007September 14th, 2007, 8:09 am EDT
There isn't a specific search for the forum, I'm afraid. To look for postings by specific posters, though, you can click the poster's name and see a chronological list of his/her (OK, who am I kidding, his) most recent posts.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
CaseyP on Sep 14, 2007September 14th, 2007, 8:35 am EDT
you're not kidding anyone! there are over a hundred posts by lady angers on this board. betcha can't tell the difference. kinda like trout...they all have spots.
"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra
Ton
Posts: 4
Posts: 4
Ton on Sep 14, 2007September 14th, 2007, 8:46 am EDT
Thanks folks. I brought up the search question because I didn't want to start a topic that has been brought up before. But looking through the google results for this site, it does seem to return the hits I want, with my keywords highlighted.
And thanks for the tip on clicking the poster's name to see their postings.
ton
And thanks for the tip on clicking the poster's name to see their postings.
ton
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