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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.

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.

IEatimago
Spring Mills, PA

Posts: 97
IEatimago on Jun 15, 2007June 15th, 2007, 6:00 am EDT
just wanted to say hello to everyone as i am new to this forum, and feel so lucky to have found it. i am very exited about the amount of information i am about to intake, and wanted to thank you all for sharing stories,tips,and general discussion.
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Jun 15, 2007June 15th, 2007, 9:24 am EDT
Welcome! Good nickname. :) Have you seen this shirt?

http://www.cafepress.com/troutnut.13579652

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Jun 15, 2007June 15th, 2007, 12:56 pm EDT
Better yet.. Have you eaten many imagos? :)
GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
GONZO on Jun 17, 2007June 17th, 2007, 1:00 pm EDT
John,
I can't speak for IEatimago, but I've managed to accidentally choke down a few over the years. Tricos go down pretty easily, even in quantity, but brown drakes bring on some serious gagging. This has served to reinforce a very old lesson, but one that I've had great difficulty learning, at least with any permanence--to keep my mouth shut! Oh well.... :O
JOHNW
JOHNW's profile picture
Chambersburg, PA

Posts: 452
JOHNW on Jun 18, 2007June 18th, 2007, 1:30 pm EDT
I can't speak for imago's however I know perlids go well with a nice aged burbon or a peaty 8 year old single malt. ;)

Culinarily yours,
John
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
BxRxTxK
western NC

Posts: 29
BxRxTxK on Jul 1, 2007July 1st, 2007, 5:27 am EDT
hey Ieatimagos had a great time hitting the penns with you last week...
cant wait to make another trip up your way...

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