Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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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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This topic is about the Mayfly Genus Hexagenia
These are huge mayflies. Hexagenia limbata, by far the most important species, is the second largest mayfly in the United States. The largest is its close relative, Litobrancha recurvata, which until recently was also in the genus Hexagenia.Two minor species, Hexagenia atrocaudata and Hexagenia rigida, may be noticed later in the season than limbata.
Read each species page for emergence and other details.
Example specimens
Curtis
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Curtis on Feb 29, 2008February 29th, 2008, 10:05 am EST
Does anyone have any hatch dates for hexagenia orlando in the Central Florida area? Several lakes near me have populations and I am gathering data. I have photos and one hatch record.
Taxon on Feb 29, 2008February 29th, 2008, 4:33 pm EST
Curtis-
The Mayflies of Florida by Lewis Berner and Manuel L. Pescador contains seven pages discussing Hexagenia orlando. Although this species is known to emerge in Florida from March to December, peak emergences are said to be in July and August. Also mentioned are the tendency of brooding in this species, with 7 to 10 days between broods during the peak emergence period with little emergence activity in between, and that the subimagoes emerge during the night and very early morning.
To me, this sounds like a very difficult emergence to hit just right, but sure hope you will share your attempts with us.
The Mayflies of Florida by Lewis Berner and Manuel L. Pescador contains seven pages discussing Hexagenia orlando. Although this species is known to emerge in Florida from March to December, peak emergences are said to be in July and August. Also mentioned are the tendency of brooding in this species, with 7 to 10 days between broods during the peak emergence period with little emergence activity in between, and that the subimagoes emerge during the night and very early morning.
To me, this sounds like a very difficult emergence to hit just right, but sure hope you will share your attempts with us.
Curtis
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Curtis on Feb 28, 2011February 28th, 2011, 9:35 am EST
Roger:
Since this original post I have recorded some more observations. I have a spreadsheet that I can up load to you, if you wish. You can e-mail me at: cduffield@greenwayelecsvc.com.
Since this original post I have recorded some more observations. I have a spreadsheet that I can up load to you, if you wish. You can e-mail me at: cduffield@greenwayelecsvc.com.
Taxon on Feb 28, 2011February 28th, 2011, 5:55 pm EST
Hi Curtis-
Got your spreadsheet, which documents Hexagenia orlando emergence on a specific Florida lake over a multi-year period. Thanks for sharing.
Got your spreadsheet, which documents Hexagenia orlando emergence on a specific Florida lake over a multi-year period. Thanks for sharing.
Jmd123 on Mar 1, 2011March 1st, 2011, 6:25 am EST
One of the fly fishing magazines had an article on warmwater fly fishing destinations near Orlando a few years ago - don't remember which one. The idea was places to go while you and your family are visiting Disneyland. Hmmmmm, bass & big sunfish on a Hex hatch...sign me up! Sounds especially good during early March in Michigan! Those redbreast sunnies put up a good fight on the long rod - I caught lots of them while living in Georgia and Texas. Can't even imagine what a Florida bluegill feels like - "freshwater permit"!
Jonathon
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
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