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.

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Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington

I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.

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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.

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.

Apatania larvae and pupae

Millcreek has attached these 3 pictures. The message is below.

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Feb 17, 2016February 17th, 2016, 11:04 am EST

These were collected during the spring and summer from Mill Creek, a tributary of Dry Creek and the Russian River. They were collected from areas with a moderate flow and a gravel and cobble base. There was little filamentous algae but good growths of diatoms.

The larvae and pupae are 6-7 mm. The cases are 8 mm.

The larvae were identified using Merritt, Cummins and Berg (2008). The pupae were identified to family using the above.

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

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Feb 17, 2016February 17th, 2016, 2:31 pm EST

Great photos, as usual. Thanks!

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Feb 18, 2016February 18th, 2016, 3:53 am EST

Nice Matt. Interesting thing about some Apatania I seem to recall that in some places females greatly out number males and there is parthenogenesis.

PaulRoberts