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 is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Jmd123 on Nov 2, 2011November 2nd, 2011, 8:12 am EDT
Yesterday I checked out another lake stocked with trout that is open all year long. I didn't catch anything and in fact saw no fish rising or anything, but it was a really beautiful place so I couldn't resist taking a few pictures. Then, while walking along the shoreline to stretch my legs, I saw this Lethocerus sp. - giant water bug - swimming along in the shallows. This thing actually came at my boot!
Jonathon
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Entoman on Nov 2, 2011November 2nd, 2011, 9:44 am EDT
Jonathon - Ahh... The ol' Toe Biters.
Go to Taxon's forum and check out the few he's got there. There's one that has an extreme close-up with his microscope of the biting parts. Or should I say skewering parts?
Kurt
Go to Taxon's forum and check out the few he's got there. There's one that has an extreme close-up with his microscope of the biting parts. Or should I say skewering parts?
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
Jmd123 on Nov 2, 2011November 2nd, 2011, 10:48 am EDT
Trust me, I knew better than to pick the darned thing up...I collected a specimen once and they have the equivalent of probably a 16-guage needle for a mouth. Plus, there is actually supposed to be some venom involved...
Once upon a time at the University of Michigan Biological Station (a.k.a. Bug Camp), I did pick up a Ranatra sp. "water scorpion" (Hemiptera: Nepidae) without getting poked somehow. I did not try to restrain said bug, just lifted it in a handful of water. It eventually flew away, leaving me unharmed.
Jonathon
Once upon a time at the University of Michigan Biological Station (a.k.a. Bug Camp), I did pick up a Ranatra sp. "water scorpion" (Hemiptera: Nepidae) without getting poked somehow. I did not try to restrain said bug, just lifted it in a handful of water. It eventually flew away, leaving me unharmed.
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Entoman on Nov 2, 2011November 2nd, 2011, 12:39 pm EDT
Jonathon -
:)
:)
"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
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