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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Epeirce on Mar 5, 2008March 5th, 2008, 8:03 am EST
hello,
my name is Eric. i love this site. it is the best place to learn about the insects we are trying to imitate with our flies. great photos! i hope to submit some soon.
i now have a custom fran better's rod to go with my new pfleuger trion reel and i can't wait to try it out.
i live on the north shore of MA. there are a few 'trout ponds' up here. they stock in the spring with good size trout and hope the bass and pickerel don't get them before the anglers. we have a few rivers with trout but they get very warm by summer and i suppose not many survive. we do have great striper fishing in the merrimack river and it's tributaries. a striper on a fly is quite a thrill!
i also help manage a cabin in wilmington, ny on the ausable river. now this is great fly fishing.
a large catch and release area lets the trout get really big and really smart. lots of pocket water and huge boulders and strong current. if anybody is interested in visiting the loj, let me know.
thanks for listening,
-e
my name is Eric. i love this site. it is the best place to learn about the insects we are trying to imitate with our flies. great photos! i hope to submit some soon.
i now have a custom fran better's rod to go with my new pfleuger trion reel and i can't wait to try it out.
i live on the north shore of MA. there are a few 'trout ponds' up here. they stock in the spring with good size trout and hope the bass and pickerel don't get them before the anglers. we have a few rivers with trout but they get very warm by summer and i suppose not many survive. we do have great striper fishing in the merrimack river and it's tributaries. a striper on a fly is quite a thrill!
i also help manage a cabin in wilmington, ny on the ausable river. now this is great fly fishing.
a large catch and release area lets the trout get really big and really smart. lots of pocket water and huge boulders and strong current. if anybody is interested in visiting the loj, let me know.
thanks for listening,
-e
Please visit my website for more info about staying at 'the little loj' on the west bank of the ausable river in wilmington, ny.
Jjlyon01 on Mar 5, 2008March 5th, 2008, 8:36 am EST
Hey Epierce,
I occasionally fly fish the Ausable when I get the chance, maybe I will be able to meet you up there sometime and wet a line.
How is Fran Betters doing. I don't know that he'd remember me as he taught me how to tie flies about 6 years ago. I remember sitting next to him in his shop while he showed me how to tie the Ausable wolf and caddis. He was sort of an idol of mine at the time and I always look for him when I'm in Wilmington, but have not seen him.
I occasionally fly fish the Ausable when I get the chance, maybe I will be able to meet you up there sometime and wet a line.
How is Fran Betters doing. I don't know that he'd remember me as he taught me how to tie flies about 6 years ago. I remember sitting next to him in his shop while he showed me how to tie the Ausable wolf and caddis. He was sort of an idol of mine at the time and I always look for him when I'm in Wilmington, but have not seen him.
"I now walk into the wild"
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