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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Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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Btbo32
Posts: 13
Posts: 13
Btbo32 on Feb 17, 2020February 17th, 2020, 1:24 pm EST
So I was doing some Winter fly fishing in Northwestern New Jersey. I’ve had caught a few Caddis casings in my time but not this! Sorry for the background picture might be hard to identify this bug? I think a mayfly nymph but not sure?? Can anyone help?
Jersey Boy
Wbranch on Feb 17, 2020February 17th, 2020, 4:47 pm EST
I hope you weren't fishing in a fly only stream. You might have a hard time explaining that to a fish warden. Yes it is a mayfly nymph. There is at least a 100% chance I'm wrong so one of the other experts hopefully will also chime in.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Millcreek on Feb 17, 2020February 17th, 2020, 10:51 pm EST
I don't think it's an Epeorus because it appears to have three tails rather than the two an Epeorus would have. As to what it actually is, other than a mayfly nymph, your guess is as good as mine.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Taxon on Feb 18, 2020February 18th, 2020, 7:52 am EST
:-)
Wbranch on Feb 18, 2020February 18th, 2020, 7:54 am EST
My uninformed response was incorrect.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Taxon on Feb 18, 2020February 18th, 2020, 5:35 pm EST
Hi Matt-
Sorry to have disappointed you. I too had no idea what it was, other than sharing Mark's belief that its 3 tails eliminated the possibility of it being of genus Epeorus. And truth be known, until after having seen Mark's post, I hadn't even observed that it had 3 tails. :-)
Best regards,
Roger
Sorry to have disappointed you. I too had no idea what it was, other than sharing Mark's belief that its 3 tails eliminated the possibility of it being of genus Epeorus. And truth be known, until after having seen Mark's post, I hadn't even observed that it had 3 tails. :-)
Best regards,
Roger
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