Header image
Enter a name
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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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.

Feathers5
Posts: 287
Feathers5 on Mar 14, 2013March 14th, 2013, 5:14 am EDT
I realize we post microscopic photos of bugs for identification purposes and that's a great practice. I'd like to make a request-suggestion that at least one photo of the specimen be photographed from a regular ocular distance.
Crepuscular
Crepuscular's profile picture
Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Mar 14, 2013March 14th, 2013, 5:56 am EDT
Are you talking about nymphs or adults and what species?
Feathers5
Posts: 287
Feathers5 on Mar 14, 2013March 14th, 2013, 6:10 am EDT
Any species and stage of maturity. If you post a nymph for example, back off on the macro for just one shot of whatever you're photographing; nymphs, emergers adults, spinners, or the O'Jays.
Crepuscular
Crepuscular's profile picture
Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Mar 14, 2013March 14th, 2013, 6:43 am EDT
Here are a couple shots of a dun from when we were in Milesburg last week.


Lastchance
Portage, PA

Posts: 437
Lastchance on Mar 14, 2013March 14th, 2013, 5:59 pm EDT
Excellent! That's exactly what I mean. Thanks, Eric.
Is it my eyes or does thorax remain a lighter olive color?
The abdomen seems to have turned a dark olive/grey, but the thorax appears a lighter olive color.

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
4
Aug 26, 2011
by Creno
1
Oct 4, 2006
by Troutnut
7
Nov 5, 2018
by Wbranch
2
May 23, 2017
by Mcflyangler
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy