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 specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.
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I found this dun unusually late in the year for anything in the Ephemerellidae family in the East. It's also small for that family.
Troutnut on Oct 3, 2006October 3rd, 2006, 3:15 pm EDT
My Ephemerellidae keys are pretty much garbage when it comes to identifying female duns. I'm wondering if anybody has any insight on this one based on personal experience.
There can't be all that many tiny olive Ephemerellids hatching in September. My tentative guess would be Serratella.
There can't be all that many tiny olive Ephemerellids hatching in September. My tentative guess would be Serratella.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Taxon on Oct 3, 2006October 3rd, 2006, 6:41 pm EDT
Jason-
I'm reasonably confident that it's Attenella margarita.
I'm reasonably confident that it's Attenella margarita.
Troutnut on Oct 4, 2006October 4th, 2006, 6:08 am EDT
OK, I'll move it there for now. What makes you sure?
I looked through all the scientific papers I have on the likely species again and can't find anything useful. I really wish they described the females and the duns more often.
I looked through all the scientific papers I have on the likely species again and can't find anything useful. I really wish they described the females and the duns more often.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Taxon on Oct 4, 2006October 4th, 2006, 9:23 am EDT
Jason-
Take a look at Fauceglia p. 67. It’s the best photo I’ve found of a Attenella female dun. Incidentally, I hadn’t yet discovered that photo when I offered the earlier opinion, but that reinforced my opinion.
In any event, there are a number of factors, which taken together, convinced me:
- dorsal pointed finger-like meso-thoractic projection
- hind wing costal projection
- body coloration
- size
- early Sep. emergence
- presence in NY
Take a look at Fauceglia p. 67. It’s the best photo I’ve found of a Attenella female dun. Incidentally, I hadn’t yet discovered that photo when I offered the earlier opinion, but that reinforced my opinion.
In any event, there are a number of factors, which taken together, convinced me:
- dorsal pointed finger-like meso-thoractic projection
- hind wing costal projection
- body coloration
- size
- early Sep. emergence
- presence in NY
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