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 specimen keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.
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Tuckcast
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Tuckcast on Jul 14, 2019July 14th, 2019, 7:22 am EDT
I took these from the mouth of a trout I caught in Oil Creek in
NW PA. I occasionally find these in the mouths of fish in this stream. These bugs were out of water for about 8 hrs when I remembered about them. As soon
as I put them in water 2 of them just took off swimming. The 3rd one had expired. What I’d like to know is: Are these fish food or parasites of some sort? The large one is about a size 18 nymph hook.
NW PA. I occasionally find these in the mouths of fish in this stream. These bugs were out of water for about 8 hrs when I remembered about them. As soon
as I put them in water 2 of them just took off swimming. The 3rd one had expired. What I’d like to know is: Are these fish food or parasites of some sort? The large one is about a size 18 nymph hook.
Taxon on Jul 14, 2019July 14th, 2019, 2:44 pm EDT
Hi Tuckcast-
Welcome to this site, :-)
Welcome to this site, :-)
Millcreek on Jul 14, 2019July 14th, 2019, 2:46 pm EDT
I think they may be Argulus americanus. It's a parasite. Further information can be found here;
https://www.google.com/search?q=argulus+americanus&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlqZmv8bXjAhWLQs0KHTibAX4QsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25#img
https://www.google.com/search?q=argulus+americanus&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlqZmv8bXjAhWLQs0KHTibAX4QsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25#img
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Tuckcast
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Tuckcast on Jul 15, 2019July 15th, 2019, 12:04 am EDT
Thanks so much for the ID. I
Guess I won’t bother trying to tie an imitation.
Guess I won’t bother trying to tie an imitation.