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.

Stream photos

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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.

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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.

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Ptilostomis?

Taju has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.

Taju
Hartola, Finland

Posts: 11

Taju on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 7:46 am EST

I guess that this is Ptilostomis, according to the web-pages. But what is the species name (ocellifera??)?

Jukka

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 7:54 am EST

Certainly looks like Ptilostomis, but I'm not sure I know how to distinguish the species. Wait for Dave on that score.

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 8:14 am EST

While the photo is not as good as the previous (the wing venation/coloration is not in focus) I don't believe it is ocellifera as as my specimens of ocellifera are generally paler and with less wing coloration than the other two likely species (postica and semifasciata). I would not feel comfortable using just size and color to separate these species. I think you need to take a good look at the private parts to be sure.

There is an excellent source for this family:

Wiggins, G.B. 1998. The caddisfly family Phryganeidae (Trichoptera. University of Toronto Press. 306pp.

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Nov 15, 2008November 15th, 2008, 10:18 am EST

Jukka,

Ethan Bright's website gives keys for Ptilostomis to the species level (based on the Wiggins reference that Creno mentions):

http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/~ethanbr/aim/Keys/Trichoptera/id_tom_phryganeidae_ptilostomis.html