Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > Litobrancha in Minnesota



This topic is about the Mayfly Genus Litobrancha

This genus is very closely related to Hexagenia. Its only species, Litobrancha recurvata, can be quite important.

There are 1 more specimens...

The Discussion

DryflyAugust 29th, 2009, 10:07 pm
rochester mn

Posts: 133
Sorry no photo
While out fishing I came across a big drake spinner. I think it might be Litobrancha Recurvata. 2 tails 17 mm body length, front pair of legs darker than back two, olive abdomen, darker thorax. Collected August 28th, which is relatively late for Litobrancha. Also could be Hexagenia Rigida or Atrocaudata.

Anyone know if Litobrancha or the Late Hexs are present in Southeast Mn?
GONZOAugust 30th, 2009, 2:21 pm
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
Dryfly,

L. recurvata is recorded for MN, though the records appear to be from the northeastern corner. I haven't seen records of H. atrocaudata or rigida from MN, but they should probably be expected. They are recorded for WN and IA, with some records close to southeastern MN. H. limbata and bilineata are recorded for MN and are the most common Hexagenia species throughout most of the upper Mississippi River area. Although the peak of their hatch is usually earlier, stragglers of either species can be found into early September.

L. recurvata seems a bit unlikely. As you note, it is usually a fairly early emerger--around the end of May or beginning of June in my area, and probably June into early July in the upper Midwest. Although 17mm is just within the lower size range, this is the largest North American mayfly, with some specimens approaching 40mm. More significantly, I think you would have noticed the unusually dark wings. Even in the spinner stage, they have dark veins and a bronzy stain in the membrane of the wings.

If it was H. atrocaudata, you probably should have seen a dark border around the rear of the hind wing (though that dark border can also be found in some limbata, some rigida, and most bilineata).

DryflyAugust 30th, 2009, 5:21 pm
rochester mn

Posts: 133
Thanks for weighing in on my question. The hind wing's back edge is a bit darker. This is just the edge though. Does that sound like Atrocaudata?
GONZOAugust 30th, 2009, 7:26 pm
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
Possibly. Is it a male? (Claspers will be present at the tip of the abdomen.) If so, and it's atrocaudata, the eyes should be quite close together on top of the head. Take a look at Jason's examples to see what I mean, and compare the dorsal and ventral markings to his:
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/472
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/206
If it's a female, the eyes will be smaller and further apart, but the abdominal markings should still be similar, as in this female dun:
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/474
(Sometimes the markings might not be quite as dark.)
DryflyAugust 30th, 2009, 8:07 pm
rochester mn

Posts: 133
It's a female. The colors have likely darkened considerably as it's two days old and now dead. It does have some of the same abdominal marking as the second male spinner. So it is most likely Hexagenia Atrocaudata. Thanks for your help Gonzo.
GONZOAugust 30th, 2009, 8:38 pm
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
My pleasure, Dryfly. There are records of atrocaudata south of you in Winneshiek and Fayette counties in Iowa, so it seems quite reasonable.

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Re: This is not Ephemera simulans
In Hexagenia limbata Mayfly Nymph by Beardius
1Aug 2, 2008
by Troutnut
Re: Help with ID
In the Identify This! Board by Calloway
2Jul 9, 2008
by Wiflyfisher
Re: Hex in NC???
In the Identify This! Board by CalebBoyle
4May 24, 2007
by CalebBoyle
Re: Can anyone ID this Caddisfly?
In the Identify This! Board by Bugtography
5Apr 21, 2011
by Jesse
Re: Mahogany Dun?
In the Identify This! Board by TroutNut2
14Jun 17, 2007
by GONZO
Re: The Hex I was talking about
In the Identify This! Board by Al514
7Sep 24, 2007
by Konchu
Re: Coffin Fly Spinner
In Male Ephemera simulans Mayfly Spinner by Jackson
6Jun 10, 2009
by Martinlf
Re: Hexagenia limbata vs rigida
In the Identify This! Board by Aafloyd
4Nov 2, 2011
by Jmd123
Re: Big and Little Hexes?
In the Identify This! Board by CaseyP
7Jul 4, 2013
by CaseyP
Re: Rhithrogena (species?)
In the Identify This! Board by Millcreek
9Jan 10, 2015
by Entoman