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.

I caught several wild and colorful 8-9 inch brook trout in the clear little pool below this waterfall.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

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Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.

11 Recently Added Photos

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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Identification: Mystacides

Mystacides sepulchralis (Black Dancer) Caddisfly Adult

3 Pictures

Lateral view of a Mystacides sepulchralis (Leptoceridae) (Black Dancer) Caddisfly Adult from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

I captured this small caddisfly from one of many dense mating swarms under overhanging alder trees in a slow stretch of the river. There were localized rises of trout under the swarms.

Collected July 28, 2004 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected July 28, 2004 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Litobrancha
Knoxville TN

Posts: 51

Litobrancha on Sep 23, 2006September 23rd, 2006, 4:52 pm EDT

mystacides. note the folded tent like posterior portion of the wings.

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Sep 23, 2006September 23rd, 2006, 7:05 pm EDT

A "Black Dancer" for sure. LaFontaine says that the shiny black wing is indicative of sepulchralis. However, on the Lehigh River and Mud Run I have found shiny-winged specimens and dull-winged specimens in the same swarm. And sepulchralis is the only Mystacides species in the collecting record for Carbon and Monroe counties. Still, I'd say sepulchralis is a safe bet.

Troutnut