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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Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva

Lateral view of a Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva from Sears Creek in Washington

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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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Nixe species (kennedyi?)

Millcreek has attached these 7 pictures to aid in identification. The message is below.

Color variation #1. 10 mm (excluding cerci). Live specimen. Collected May 29, 2014.

Color variation #1. 7 mm (excluding cerci). Live specimen. Collected May 13, 2014.

Color variation #1. 6 mm (excluding cerci). In alcohol. Collected May 5, 2012.

Color variation #2. 9 mm (excluding cerci). Live specimen. Collected May 17, 2014.

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:07 pm EDT

These nymphs are abundant in the Russian River from April to June. I've keyed them out to Nixe using Merritt, Cummins and Berg but have been unable to ID them to species. The only Nixe species I've been able to find recorded from California is N. kennedyi but the nymphs are not described and I haven't collected any adults in the area. Does anybody know anything more about the nymphs?

The nymphs seem to have two distinct pattern types. Not sure if that's just a color variation or whether they could be two different species. Photos show the two variations.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:28 pm EDT

Millcreek - are you collecting both forms at the same time/place? creno

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:33 pm EDT

Dave - Yes, although variation #2 tends to show up about a week later. I've often collected both forms off the same rock.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Sep 26, 2014September 26th, 2014, 8:14 pm EDT

I can't make out the mouthparts but the head spots and small lateral spines clearly agree with your assessment. Perhaps the difference between the two is due to dimorphism.

"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

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Sep 27, 2014September 27th, 2014, 7:46 am EDT

Perhaps the difference between the two is due to dimorphism.

It could be. Either two variations in the same species or differences between male and female. Probably more likely than two species. Separating the two variations and rearing the mature nymphs should provide answers. Hope to be set up next year for rearing nymphs.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein