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Updates from February 5, 2004



Photos by Troutnut from the East Fork of the Iron River, Schacte Creek, and the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Two dear make tracks across a frozen trout stream in the deep snows of early February not far from Lake Superior.  I had hoped to sample nymphs in the stream (which later turned out to be quite fertile) but it wasn't open. From the East Fork of the Iron River in Wisconsin.
Two dear make tracks across a frozen trout stream in the deep snows of early February not far from Lake Superior. I had hoped to sample nymphs in the stream (which later turned out to be quite fertile) but it wasn't open.
Date TakenFeb 5, 2004
Date AddedJan 25, 2006
AuthorTroutnut
This tiny spring creek is extremely fertile, and I sampled many interesting insects I didn't find anywhere else.  The water was completely open even though other nearby spring creeks were frozen over and the snow was three feet deep. From Schacte Creek in Wisconsin.
This tiny spring creek is extremely fertile, and I sampled many interesting insects I didn't find anywhere else. The water was completely open even though other nearby spring creeks were frozen over and the snow was three feet deep.
Date TakenFeb 5, 2004
Date AddedJan 25, 2006
AuthorTroutnut
Here's another of my very frigid early nymph sampling sites. From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin.
Here's another of my very frigid early nymph sampling sites.
Date TakenFeb 5, 2004
Date AddedJan 25, 2006
AuthorTroutnut
I had hoped to sample some nymphs here, but I didn't bring an ice auger. From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin.
I had hoped to sample some nymphs here, but I didn't bring an ice auger.
Date TakenFeb 5, 2004
Date AddedJan 25, 2006
AuthorTroutnut

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Bois Brule River, Miscellaneous Wisconsin, Schacte Creek, the Namekagon River, and Schacte Creek in Wisconsin

Leptophlebia (Black Quills and Blue Quills) Mayfly NymphLeptophlebia (Black Quills and Blue Quills) Mayfly Nymph View 5 PicturesI think this one might be Leptophlebia intermedia.
Collected February 5, 2004 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly NymphEphemerella aurivillii  Mayfly Nymph View 5 PicturesClose examination under a microscope showed definite small tubercles (
A few (not all) of the abdominal tubercles on this Ephemerella needhami nymph are circled.  They are especially large in this species.
A few (not all) of the abdominal tubercles on this Ephemerella needhami nymph are circled. They are especially large in this species.
Tubercle: Various peculiar little bumps or projections on an insect. Their character is important for the identification of many kinds of insects, such as the nymphs of Ephemerellidae mayflies.
)
on the back of this nymph.
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Sialis Alderfly LarvaSialis  Alderfly Larva View 4 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Sialis Alderfly LarvaSialis  Alderfly Larva View 4 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Trichoptera (Caddisflies) Caddisfly LarvaTrichoptera (Caddisflies) Insect Larva View 4 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly NymphEphemerella aurivillii  Mayfly Nymph View 4 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) Mayfly NymphBaetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) Mayfly Nymph View 4 PicturesThis Baetis nymph is quite a bit larger than any of the others I found in winter 2004. Abdomen segment 5 is only slightly pale while 9 and 10 are quite pale. The tail is banded at the tip. Its body measures about 9mm long. It's much larger than the other Baetis specimens I collected, and it has quite well-developed wingpads.

It's most likely a mature nymph from a very early-hatching brood. It comes from the headwaters of a very small, very spring-fed Lake Superior tributary, which wasn't at all frozen despite very frigid temperatures and 3 feet of snow on the ground.
Collected February 5, 2004 from Schacte Creek, Bayfield County in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills and Mahogany Duns) Mayfly NymphParaleptophlebia (Blue Quills and Mahogany Duns) Mayfly Nymph View 4 PicturesThis one is missing several gills due to capture damage.
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Chironomidae (Midges) Midge LarvaChironomidae (Midges) True Fly Larva View 3 PicturesThis large midge larva is about 3/4" long.
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly NymphEphemerella aurivillii  Mayfly Nymph View 3 PicturesThis specimen seems to be morphologically identical to the darker specimens of its species, but it's a very distinctly different color. I'm guessing this is a gender difference, just as I've guessed for the similar E. subvaria nymphs.
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly NymphEphemerella aurivillii  Mayfly Nymph View 3 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Dicranota True Fly LarvaDicranota  True Fly Larva View 3 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly NymphEphemerella aurivillii  Mayfly Nymph View 3 PicturesExamination of this specimen under a microscope revealed that it does have small abdominal tubercles (
A few (not all) of the abdominal tubercles on this Ephemerella needhami nymph are circled.  They are especially large in this species.
A few (not all) of the abdominal tubercles on this Ephemerella needhami nymph are circled. They are especially large in this species.
Tubercle: Various peculiar little bumps or projections on an insect. Their character is important for the identification of many kinds of insects, such as the nymphs of Ephemerellidae mayflies.
)
, 2-banded femora (
The femur of this Isonychia bicolor mayfly spinner is highlighted in red.
The femur of this Isonychia bicolor mayfly spinner is highlighted in red.
Femur: The main segment of an insect's leg close to the body, in between the tibia and the trochanter.
)
, and banded tails.
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) Mayfly NymphBaetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) Mayfly Nymph View 3 PicturesThis Baetid nymph has no tracheation on its gills, no distinct bands on its tails, and a rounded, oval 7th gill. Abdominal segments 5, 9, and 10 are pale.
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Chironomidae (Midges) Midge LarvaChironomidae (Midges) True Fly Larva View 2 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly NymphEphemerella aurivillii  Mayfly Nymph View 3 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) Mayfly NymphBaetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) Mayfly Nymph View 3 PicturesThis little Baetid looks a little stiff because it died shortly before being photographed.
Collected February 5, 2004 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006
Hydropsychidae Caddisfly LarvaHydropsychidae  Caddisfly Larva View 2 Pictures
Collected February 5, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

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