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.
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This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Photos by Troutnut from Denali Highway in Alaska
Comments / replies
Oldredbarn on Sep 10, 2013September 10th, 2013, 1:44 pm EDT
Fella...Its starting to look like its about to get a little chilly up there! :)
Jason...Are you using filters to take these photos?
Spence
Jason...Are you using filters to take these photos?
Spence
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Troutnut on Sep 11, 2013September 11th, 2013, 5:19 pm EDT
It's definitely getting a bit chilly up here.
I take all these pictures through a polarizing filter (because it's easier to leave it on my walk-around camera than to take it on and off all the time), but it's usually not noticeable. Manipulating the photos in Lightroom may give them a bit of a filtered look. Hopefully it's a good look.
I take all these pictures through a polarizing filter (because it's easier to leave it on my walk-around camera than to take it on and off all the time), but it's usually not noticeable. Manipulating the photos in Lightroom may give them a bit of a filtered look. Hopefully it's a good look.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Crepuscular on Sep 11, 2013September 11th, 2013, 5:37 pm EDT
Hopefully it's a good look.
Jason, it's more than good.
On another note, do you ever do any bird hunting up there?
PaulRoberts on Sep 11, 2013September 11th, 2013, 5:52 pm EDT
Wonderful! In CO, too, it was the ground cover that lit up in autumn. Just reveled in it.
Curious... Do you know if the tree distribution in the second image is due to fire, water, or frost?
Curious... Do you know if the tree distribution in the second image is due to fire, water, or frost?
Jmd123 on Sep 11, 2013September 11th, 2013, 7:35 pm EDT
WOW Jason. You sure have no shortage of picturesque landscapes up there...
Your swans remind me of the Trumpeter Swans we have around here. They're pretty rare in the rest of MI (Spence can correct me if I'm wrong) but I see them all the time around here...along with wood and Blanding's turtles, which are both listed as Special Concern here in MI but I do see plenty around here.
Anyways, fabulous photos Jason, thanks for continuing to share your adventures in the Far North with us!
Jonathon
Your swans remind me of the Trumpeter Swans we have around here. They're pretty rare in the rest of MI (Spence can correct me if I'm wrong) but I see them all the time around here...along with wood and Blanding's turtles, which are both listed as Special Concern here in MI but I do see plenty around here.
Anyways, fabulous photos Jason, thanks for continuing to share your adventures in the Far North with us!
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Crepuscular on Sep 12, 2013September 12th, 2013, 3:36 am EDT
Wonderful! In CO, too, it was the ground cover that lit up in autumn. Just reveled in it.
Paul I couldn't agree more! when the lowbush blueberry changes color here in the fall it's beautiful.
Troutnut on Sep 12, 2013September 12th, 2013, 8:12 am EDT
On another note, do you ever do any bird hunting up there?
Yes, I do. I went a couple days ago but didn't see any birds. I should post those pictures, too.
Curious... Do you know if the tree distribution in the second image is due to fire, water, or frost?
Water and permafrost, I think.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
PaulRoberts on Sep 12, 2013September 12th, 2013, 4:14 pm EDT
Do post pictures of your bird hunting. Turns out there are a number of gallinaceous species here in the Philippines, and a bunch of pigeons and doves too. Doubt I'll get to hunt them though, in part bc I know nothing about their numbers. There are no game, or fish, laws here. Dynamite is OK, except on coral reefs.
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