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 an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Grannom on Jun 24, 2008June 24th, 2008, 10:22 am EDT
I live in NW PA, and have no trout streams near my house, but there is a small stream about a mile away, where I have never seen a bug hatch from. I found a small, size 18-20,light brown(from what my friend said, I'm colorblind)mayfly with two tails. Wings were cloudy with no veination. The body seem rather stalky compared to what I'm used to. Any ideas? I know this is vague, and you bug guru's are gonna hate me.
"Be calm - you're there..." "...Tell yourself there's no rush, even if there is."
-John Gierach
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Grannom on Jun 26, 2008June 26th, 2008, 10:02 am EDT
Gonzo- Stocky
"Be calm - you're there..." "...Tell yourself there's no rush, even if there is."
-John Gierach
-John Gierach
GONZO on Jun 26, 2008June 26th, 2008, 11:36 am EDT
Thanks, Mike. My first impression was that you had probably found a baetid ("two tails"), but I now think it might be a caenid that had lost one of its tails. These stocky little mayflies have broad forewings and no hindwings. Their wing and body shapes are similar to Tricos. The sparse venation (few cross-veins) would probably be fairly indistinct ("cloudy" wings). You might also have noticed a dark line along the leading edge of the forewing. Although it might have come from the stream you mention, it could also have come from a pond or lake. Does that sound right?
Grannom on Jun 26, 2008June 26th, 2008, 1:12 pm EDT
Yeah, Gonzo, sounds good. Also, there were no hindwings now that you mention it. But I really have no idea where is came from. The stream is the only body of water near my house. Thanks
"Be calm - you're there..." "...Tell yourself there's no rush, even if there is."
-John Gierach
-John Gierach
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