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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.

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.
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.
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Konchu
Konchu's profile picture
Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on Dec 15, 2011December 15th, 2011, 6:05 am EST
I was surprised to find an old creative endeavor of mine show up on the Purdue Entomology webpage. I actually had forgotten about this. But I thought some of your might enjoy it. Happy holidays!

Account of a Visit from Drunella grandis
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Dec 15, 2011December 15th, 2011, 6:15 am EST
Ok Luke...Was this a result of a slow day in the lab?! :) Funny stuff mister! and timely...;)

Maybe one of these years we can get you to Michigan so you can rap about our Hex...:)

Spence

Froehliche Weinachten!...and that goes for you too Herr Rohrbeck!
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
PaulRoberts
PaulRoberts's profile picture
Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on Dec 15, 2011December 15th, 2011, 7:20 am EST
Wonderful! Thanks for that, Luke.

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