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.

The North Fork Couer d'Alene River in Idaho

Stream photos

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Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.

10 Recently Added Photos

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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Hesperoperla or Calineuria

Male Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult

15 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Calineuria californica (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington

A few of these larger stoneflies were fluttering around the South Fork on an evening dominated by much smaller species.

This one has been difficult to identify. I can't spot any of the gill remnants characteristic of Perlidae, but the wing venation seems to point in that direction. I tried keying it out as Perlodidae but arrived at Isoperla, every western species of which has significantly smaller bodies than this one.

Edit: See forum comments for a likely correct identification.

Collected July 19, 2019 from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington

Added by Troutnut on July 22, 2019

Collected July 19, 2019 from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington and added by Troutnut on July 22, 2019

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Jul 22, 2019July 22nd, 2019, 9:18 am EDT

Hesperoperla or Calineuria. Just a guess. These are similar to ones I've netted in California. The gill remnants don't always show and can be difficult to spot when they do. The size is right and the wing veining as well.

Here's a picture at bugguide of Hesperoperla.

https://bugguide.net/node/view/1257709

I'm leaning more towards Calineuria.
https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~biodiv/entomology/main/Plecoptera/Perlidae/Calineuria%20californica%20(1dorsal).jpg

And here's a view of Hesperoperla's wings.

https:/bugguide.net/node/view/41324/bgimage

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

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Jul 22, 2019July 22nd, 2019, 11:24 am EDT

Thanks. The color patterns at least looks extremely similar to this Calineuria californica from bugguide.net:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/368894/bgimage

I tried following the key in Merritt & Cummins to get there, but none of the relevant characteristics were very clear unfortunately.

What's the size range for that one? One source said they're the largest western Perlid, and this specimen certainly doesn't fit that bill.

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Jul 22, 2019July 22nd, 2019, 12:26 pm EDT

The size range is from 15-25 mm from nose to tip of abdomen (not including the cerci). At least from this area of northern California.

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