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 seems to be a young larva of Limnephilus. Although not clear in the picture, several ventral abdominal segments have chloride epithelia.
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Martinlf on Nov 26, 2006November 26th, 2006, 12:46 pm EST
Jason, thanks for giving pictures of bug bellies when you've been able. This is what I want to see when tying, and I'd suggest that you include them whenever you can.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Troutnut on Nov 27, 2006November 27th, 2006, 6:03 pm EST
Thanks.
That was actually one of the main reasons I started photographing insects and building this website. The color plates in my mayfly books are all well and good, but it's pretty hard to see the belly color. That's understandable from the perspective of a publisher who wants to fill his limited space with attractive, elegant side shots, but it's frustrating for a tier to try and guess what color that shaded half-hidden underbelly really is. The Internet was the perfect answer to that little problem.
That was actually one of the main reasons I started photographing insects and building this website. The color plates in my mayfly books are all well and good, but it's pretty hard to see the belly color. That's understandable from the perspective of a publisher who wants to fill his limited space with attractive, elegant side shots, but it's frustrating for a tier to try and guess what color that shaded half-hidden underbelly really is. The Internet was the perfect answer to that little problem.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist