Title

Biology of a Large Mayfly, Hexagenia bilineata (Say), of the Upper Mississippi River

Authors

Cal R. Fremling, Winona State University

Files

Description

Article by Calvin R. Fremling, in the September 1960 issue (number 482) of Research bulletin / Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The article and issue are complete. Fremling is noted as being "Formerly graduate assistant, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Now assistant professor of biology, Winona State College, Winona, Minnesota." The article covers the mayfly H. bilineata. Contents: - Summary - Introduction - The Subimago - The Imago - The Nymph - Emergence - Parasites of Hexagenia bilineata - Possible Control - Literature Cited Summary [page 842]: "Hexagenia bilineata (Say) and Hexagenia limbata (Serville) create nuisance problems by their sheer numbers in many cities along the Mississippi River. They also constitute a navigation hazard and may cause allergies. H. bilineata is generally more abundant than H. limbata on the Upper Mississippi River, but H. limbata becomes increasingly abundant northward. The absence of intermediate-sized nymphs in late summer indicates that H. bilineata completes a generation in 1 year in the Keokuk area. H. bilineata nymphs live in burrows in the river bottom and are most abundant in impounded areas where there is little current and where the river bottom is silty. Keokuk is less bothered by Hexagenia spp. than are other river cities because it lies only partially along a silted, impounded area. Other cities which lie entirely along silted areas, such as Fort Madison, Iowa, receive greater quantities of adult Hexagenia spp. Detailed observations were made of H. bilineata mating flights and the emergence of the subimago from its nymphal exuviae. An analysis of 150 observations of H. bilineata emergences on the Upper Mississippi River indicated that waves of emergence occur at intervals of about 6-11 days, with the maximum emergence occurring in mid-July. A single wave of emergence usually occurred almost simultaneously throughout the river segment. During the maximum wave, 30 observations were made during a 3-night period over a 440-mile expanse of river. H. bilineata nymphs, subimagoes and imagoes were heavily parasitized by metacercariae which were thought to be those of Megalogonia ictaluri and Crepidostomum cooperi. Hexagenia nymphs, which occur predominantly in shallow, slow-water areas, may be vulnerable to wettable powder or granular insecticides. The nymphs are a prime food of fish, however, and such control measures may adversely affect fish populations. Modifications in lighting may alleviate the mayfly problem to some extent." 12 pages. Part of the Cal R. Fremling Collection.

Publication Date

1960

Item Type

Book

Publisher

Library

City

Winona, Minnesota

Keywords

Biologists; Insects Behavior; Mayflies

Department

Special Collections-Library

Notes

1960-09-01

Recommended Citation

Fremling, Cal R., "Biology of a Large Mayfly, Hexagenia bilineata (Say), of the Upper Mississippi River" (1960). Cal Fremling Papers. 11.
https://openriver.winona.edu/calfremlingpapers/11

Rights Management

Requests to reproduce this image must be granted by the Winona County Historical Society.

Contributing Institution

Winona County History Center

Master File Format

TIFF

Fiscal Sponsor

This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.

Scanning Responsibility

Northern Micrographics

Date Digital

2019-06-24 00:00

Metadata Creation Responsibility

Anna Gaffey

Unique Identifier

2011.003.0110