Header image

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.

The Tanana River in Alaska

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.

10 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.

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.

Troutnut Forum
›
Site Update Comments
›
Site updates from April 19, 2006

Troutnut Forum
›
Site Update Comments
›
Site updates from April 19, 2006

Photos by Troutnut from Mongaup Creek in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

Underwater photos by Troutnut from the East Branch of the Delaware River and Mongaup Creek in New York

I love this "above & below" landscape from a popular Catskill trout stream. The picture is not doctored to show both perspectives. Instead, my Pentax Optio WPi digital camera is able to take pictures with the tiny lens half-in, half-out of the water.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

Several Baetidae nymphs line up on a rock.

From Mongaup Creek in New York

This is a close-up underwater view of a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria (Henrickson) female dun.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

A Brachycentrus "Apple Caddis" pupa scoots around in the surface film. Apparently it had some difficulty emerging, so I was able to slip my camera underneath it and take a picture from below.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

This picture from below shows a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) dun drifting on the surface amidst a number of shed pupal skins from Brachycentrus caddisflies which were heavily hatching that day.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

This Brachycentrus "Apple Caddis" struggled more than its kin in escaping its pupal skin, enabling me to take an underwater picture of it from directly below. This is sort of a trout's eye view, but I used the flash for the picture so the transparent shuck appears far brighter than it really is.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

On-stream insect photos by Troutnut from Mongaup Creek in New York

Here's an above-the-water view of a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria dun which I also photographed from below the water.

From Mongaup Creek in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Beaverkill River and Mongaup Creek in New York

9
Male Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I collected this male Hendrickson dun and a female in the pool on the Beaverkill where the popular Hendrickson pattern was first created. He is descended from mayfly royalty.

7
Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Artistic view of a Isonychia bicolor (Isonychiidae) (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

This Isonychia bicolor nymph from the Catskills displays the prominent white stripe sometimes characteristic of its species. This is the first such specimen I've photographed, because members of the same species in the Upper Midwest have a more subdued stripe (and were once thought to be a different species, Isonychia sadleri). The striking coloration on this eastern nymph is more appealing.

6
Peltoperla (Roachfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Peltoperla (Peltoperlidae) (Roachfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This is the first specimen of the Peltoperlidae stonefly family that I've collected. It's very small and probably an early instar, but I'm not choosy about new bugs.

10
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner

Lateral view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Mongaup Creek in New York

I spent most of the day looking for Epeorus pluralis duns or spinners without any luck on the major Catskill rivers. Finally in the evening I arrived at a small stream somebody had recommended, and when I got out of the car I was happy to find that I had parked in the middle of a cloud of male spinners.

9
Female Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I collected this female Hendrickson dun and a male in the pool on the Beaverkill where the popular Hendrickson pattern was first created. She is descended from mayfly royalty.

10
Pteronarcys proteus (Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph

Artistic view of a Pteronarcys proteus (Pteronarcyidae) (Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

6
Hexatoma True Fly Larva

Hexatoma (Limoniidae) True Fly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York

I'm not sure if this cranefly larva is in the genus Hexatoma or Limnophila, but the habitat suggests Hexatoma. Its coloring is iridescent, and I've never heard of that before. However, there is an insect virus genus Iridovirus which can infect craneflies and causes iridescence. It has not been reported in this region as far as I can tell, but perhaps it is the culprit. It makes for beautiful pictures.

11
Isogenoides hansoni (Appalachian Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Isogenoides hansoni (Perlodidae) (Appalachian Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This large Perlodidae stonefly was a strikingly bright yellow color, more so than any other insect I've seen. I didn't enhance it much. See the discussion threads to follow how we identified this specimen, which was listed incorrectly for several years.

6
Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

6
Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This specimen was collected together with a lighter one of the same species. It resembles another specimen from about 1300 miles away in Wisconsin, which I tentatively called Ephemerella needhami. This one has much less prominent abdominal tubercles. It may be that they're both the same species and I don't have my identifications straight.

8
Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

This small Ephemerella invaria nymph was at least a month away from emergence.

3
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

5
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

5
Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This specimen was collected together with a darker one of the same species.

7
Female Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Female Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mongaup Creek in New York

This little early-season dun molted into this spinner after I photographed her.

4
Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This Epeorus pluralis dun is recently deceased in these photos. I decided not to photograph several lively, less mature nymphs. This one was ready to hatch, as indicated by the black wing pads. I believe it had not been dead long enough to lose its natural coloration.

6
Rhithrogena impersonata (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Rhithrogena impersonata (Heptageniidae) (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This was the only Rhithrogena specimen in a large sample of nymphs from a small Catskill stream. It looks virtually identical to Rhithrogena impersonata specimens collected in the Midwest, but I didn't get to check the distinguishing features under a microscope.

5
Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Isonychia bicolor (Isonychiidae) (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

4
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

I photographed this Maccaffertium vicarium nymph shortly after it molted to a new instar in my holding container. Many nymphs take on drastically different coloration immediately after molting, and this species is no exception.

4
Female Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Female Paraleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I really hoped to catch some good blue quill specimens on this trip, but they are very fragile mayflies and this one was in the best condition of the few that I caught after I drove them home to my camera. It may not be pretty, but you get an idea of the size/shape/color anyway.

4
Female Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Spinner

Lateral view of a Female Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Spinner from Mongaup Creek in New York

I captured and photographed this specimen as a dun before she molted into the spinner photographed here. Her wings got a bit torn up in the process.

3
Cinygmula subaequalis (Small Gordon Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Cinygmula subaequalis (Heptageniidae) (Small Gordon Quill) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

I had heard reports of a bright red heptageniid nymph before but never seen one until I found this early instar specimen in a very high water quality small stream in the Catskills.

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic

Replies

Last Reply

Re: And now for something... completely different.
In Site Updates by Bnewell

3

Mar 30, 2012
by Entoman

Re: One of several new specimens today
In Psilotreta labida Caddisfly Larva by Troutnut

3

Feb 12, 2009
by Creno

Some neat new bugs today
In General Discussion by Troutnut

0

Aug 23, 2006
by Troutnut

Re: Chubs: define "caught"
In General Discussion by Troutnut

16

Jan 31, 2016
by Martinlf

Re: Information on BWO patterns Featured Topic
In Fly Tying by Blueliner

16

Aug 20, 2009
by Malcolm

Re: Lots of new pictures to check out, coming online tonight/tomorrow
In General Discussion by Troutnut

1

Oct 4, 2006
by Dinerobyn

Re: Off to Alaska!
In General Discussion by Troutnut

9

Jun 28, 2007
by Troutnut

Re: Drunella in the Smokies
In the Mayfly Species Drunella tuberculata by Konchu

6

Jan 4, 2010
by Konchu

Re: Trout habitat Question
In General Discussion by Nymphnut

2

Jan 4, 2008
by Martinlf

Re: hook size (and chocolate duns, and old-timey mayfly family classifications)
In Eurylophella Mayfly Nymph by Warren

10

Apr 13, 2007
by Quillgordon

Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 Jason Neuswanger (email Jason). privacy policy