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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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.
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Entoman on Apr 26, 2011April 26th, 2011, 6:10 pm EDT
Jason,
I was going to share my belief that this specimen is E. aurivillii, but I see you beat me to it.:) Oh well, with all the "fast gun" Bugmeisters on this site, there are really only two types, "the quick and the dead!":)
This species is fairly common in the West, but nobody seems to know what the duns look like. If you could catch some ripe nymphs this spring and hatch them into duns, it would be excellent reportage.
Regards,
Kurt
I was going to share my belief that this specimen is E. aurivillii, but I see you beat me to it.:) Oh well, with all the "fast gun" Bugmeisters on this site, there are really only two types, "the quick and the dead!":)
This species is fairly common in the West, but nobody seems to know what the duns look like. If you could catch some ripe nymphs this spring and hatch them into duns, it would be excellent reportage.
Regards,
Kurt
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman
Troutnut on Apr 26, 2011April 26th, 2011, 6:20 pm EDT
Haha, you get full credit for calling the ID to my attention. I checked through my key and sure enough that seems to be it.
I'd love to hear about the cooler device. I've seen similar things but am always interested in a new take on something like that. PM me if you want, or just post where everyone can see... I'm sure others would like to know about that too.
I'd love to hear about the cooler device. I've seen similar things but am always interested in a new take on something like that. PM me if you want, or just post where everyone can see... I'm sure others would like to know about that too.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist