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.

I like this one. Glacial river, taiga, tundra, and the perpetual ice cover of a massive high ridge dozens of miles away in the Wrangell Mountains.

From the Copper River in Alaska

Stream photos

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Male Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun Male Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Male Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington

This dun emerged from a mature nymph on my desk. Unfortunately its wings didn't perfectly dry out.

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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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Please identify this bug

Levwood has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.

What is the genus and species and common name of this mayfly?

Levwood
Grosse Pte. Michigan

Posts: 11

Levwood on Jun 10, 2013June 10th, 2013, 3:16 pm EDT

Mayfly captured in the Black River, northern Michigan on June 7. Can anyone tell me the name of this bug? Thanks, Lev
levwood@earthlink.net

Lev

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Jun 10, 2013June 10th, 2013, 6:02 pm EDT

Looks to me like a Leptophlebia...cupida or nebulosa...Though I've never seen the odd dark markings on the wing?

We call it the Borcher's Drake...Thought to be the model for Ernie Borcher's famous Au Sable fly.

"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

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Jun 10, 2013June 10th, 2013, 6:16 pm EDT

It looks like a male Isonychia tusculanensis imago, but they're not supposed to be in N. MI. Leptophlebia nebulosa looks very similar and does have the brown tipped wings as well. They have a terminal filament that I'm not seeing though. Even so, nebulosa is found in MI, so that would be my guess. Perhaps the middle tail was knocked off as these guys are always losing tails.

"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

Levwood
Grosse Pte. Michigan

Posts: 11

Levwood on Jun 11, 2013June 11th, 2013, 3:53 pm EDT

Gentlemen, you guys are great. I do not have other photos, just this one. One of the tails did break off in my fingers. I'll go with the Leptophlebia since the folks at Gates Lodge did mention this off the cuff. If anyone else has a guess please weigh in but I think this case is solved! Thanks.

Lev

Lev

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Jun 12, 2013June 12th, 2013, 9:59 am EDT

One of the tails did break off in my fingers.

Nebulosa it is then, Lev.

The brown spot is likely from too much finger pressure on the wings with the hands. That often breaks the veins and lets the fluid out into the wings membrane.

Huh? Were'd you get this from, Mack...:)

"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

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Jun 12, 2013June 12th, 2013, 11:28 am EDT

The brown spot is likely from too much finger pressure on the wings with the hands. That often breaks the veins and lets the fluid out into the wings membrane.

What?

Taxon

Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311

Taxon on Jun 12, 2013June 12th, 2013, 1:06 pm EDT

Hi Mack,

I too have observed a yellow liquid-appearing spot, usually in the tip of one fore wing, and have often wondered about it, although it never occurred to me that it might be the result of a mayfly having been captured by its wing tips.

However, in the case of Leptophlebia nebulosa , the brown staining on the outer 2/5 of their fore wings serve to distinguish them from other Leptophlebia species.

Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

Levwood
Grosse Pte. Michigan

Posts: 11

Levwood on Jun 13, 2013June 13th, 2013, 9:38 am EDT

You guys are awesome. I have a great shot of a large black Michigan stonefly you can take a shot at too. Want it?

Lev

Lev