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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.

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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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Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Apr 4, 2016April 4th, 2016, 6:09 am EDT
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Jmd123
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Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Apr 4, 2016April 4th, 2016, 10:44 am EDT
HEX HATCH!!! Looks like one anyways... I wonder what genus and species that is?

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Crepuscular
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Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Apr 4, 2016April 4th, 2016, 10:54 am EDT
looks like Ephoron sp (Polymitarcyidae) to me.
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Apr 4, 2016April 4th, 2016, 11:55 am EDT
looks like Ephoron sp (Polymitarcyidae) to me.


Ephoron virgo. Interestingly (to me at least), this is the genus of (winged lifestages) mayflies which has either (2) tails or (3) tails, depending on whether male or female.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Apr 4, 2016April 4th, 2016, 1:02 pm EDT
Roger -

Interestingly (to me at least), this is the genus of (winged lifestages) mayflies which has either (2) tails or (3) tails, depending on whether male or female.


Do all Polymitarcyidae have 2 or 3 tails? Also which sex has 2 tails and which sex has 3 tails?

Just curious,
Mark
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Apr 4, 2016April 4th, 2016, 11:19 pm EDT
Roger -
Do all Polymitarcyidae have 2 or 3 tails? Also which sex has 2 tails and which sex has 3 tails?

Just curious,
Mark


Hi Mark-

The N. American species of family Polymitarcyidae are as follows:

Campsurus cuspidatus
Campsurus decoloratus
Ephoron album
Ephoron leukon
Tortopsis primus
Tortopsis puella
Tortopus circumfluus

It is my belief that only genus where winged males have (2) tails, and winged females have (3) tails is Ephoron, and the other three genera all have only (2) tails, independent of sex.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Crepuscular
Crepuscular's profile picture
Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Apr 5, 2016April 5th, 2016, 4:20 am EDT
we get a few E. leukon here... :)

Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Apr 5, 2016April 5th, 2016, 5:15 am EDT
Yes, I'd say so, Eric. :-)
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Apr 5, 2016April 5th, 2016, 7:03 am EDT
Roger-

Thanks for the answer.

Eric-

Just the occasional one, huh?:)
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

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