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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.

Ventral view of a Hydropsyche (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
With a bit of help from the microscope, this specimen keys clearly and unsurprisingly to Hydropsyche.
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.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Male Mystacides sepulchralis (Leptoceridae) (Black Dancer) Caddisfly Adult from the West Branch of Owego Creek in New York
This was one of many of its species which were gathered in small, low-flying swarms of about a dozen insects near the alder trees in the afternoon on a small stream.
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Aug 23, 2006August 23rd, 2006, 8:11 pm EDT
Based on wings being shiny black rather than dull, and it not having been collected in the West, it is most likely M. sepulchralis.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Troutnut
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Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Aug 24, 2006August 24th, 2006, 4:26 am EDT
Thanks Roger. I'm glad someone around here knows their caddisflies!

Now that I've finally finished getting the new site up, I'm going to start learning my bugs a little better too, especially my caddisflies.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

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