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 one seems to lead to Couplet 35 of the Key to Genera of Perlodidae Nymphs and the genus Isoperla, but I'm skeptical that's correct based on the general look. I need to get it under the microscope to review several choices in the key, and it'll probably end up a different Perlodidae.
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Pdcox on Dec 10, 2019December 10th, 2019, 11:23 am EST
Fished the Niangua River in central Missouri. I have rarely seen surface or in the film action over the years. Yesterday, 9 AM, 51 degrees F, overcast skies, the rainbows went wild on these. I had seen several black flies about, but found no takers of the dry. Finally hooked two on a BWO dry, go figure, and persuaded one of them to show me what they were eating. Pictures attached. Any confirmation?
https://pauldavid.smugmug.com/Bugs/i-ggdDd2n
https://pauldavid.smugmug.com/Bugs/i-ggdDd2n
Millcreek on Dec 10, 2019December 10th, 2019, 3:46 pm EST
Paul,
The pictures don't look like a Simuliidae. The antennae of the insects in the picture is too long. They look more like some kind of caddisfly.
The pictures don't look like a Simuliidae. The antennae of the insects in the picture is too long. They look more like some kind of caddisfly.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Pdcox on Dec 10, 2019December 10th, 2019, 11:41 pm EST
thank you, will look more deeply into them
Martinlf on Dec 12, 2019December 12th, 2019, 12:45 pm EST
Yes, caddis.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Brian314 on Mar 7, 2020March 7th, 2020, 11:40 pm EST
Looks like Black (aka Mothers Day) caddis but there is a hint of olive in 2 of the bugs so maybe Rhyacophila (green sedge) ???? :-)
Troutnut on Mar 9, 2020March 9th, 2020, 5:40 am EDT
Definitely caddisflies. Looks like some pupae and drowned adults.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
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