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.

Stream photos

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Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.

11 Recently Added Photos

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.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Baetidae

Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph

4 Pictures

Dorsal view of a Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from Cayuta Creek in New York

Collected April 13, 2007 from Cayuta Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on April 22, 2007

Collected April 13, 2007 from Cayuta Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on April 22, 2007

Earlfishman
Posts: 17

Earlfishman on Apr 23, 2007April 23rd, 2007, 3:05 pm EDT

This one looks like an almost ready to emerge male Baetis sp., but I can't be 100% based on the pictures and I definitely can't go any further than that.

As a side note, if anyone is interested in a good key to the larvae of Baetidae, search google for "EPA photographic Baetidae key" and click on the PDF at the EPA site (direct link to the PDF here). The key has some good photos and works very well for the eastern U.S.

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Apr 24, 2007April 24th, 2007, 2:14 am EDT

Wow, amazing photos.

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Konchu

Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498

Konchu on Apr 24, 2007April 24th, 2007, 6:14 am EDT

Could even be a Pseudocloeon/Labiobaetis species...

Earlfishman: Thanks for the link to the great baetid key!!!

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Apr 24, 2007April 24th, 2007, 6:44 am EDT

Excellent link Earl! I'll be using that one a lot.

Following it through for this specimen leads me to Baetis too.

Does anyone have the Baetis species key the PDF mentions as the most recent (Weirsema et al 2004)? Is it worth a trip to the library?

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Konchu

Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498

Konchu on Apr 24, 2007April 24th, 2007, 2:52 pm EDT

Worth the trip to the library.