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Flyfishing Entomology |
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Pacific Northwest Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) |
| Ameletidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Ameletidae
| Primitive minnow | Labrum without distinct notch in midline; gills with a sclerotized (hard) dark band along the outside margin; mouthparts with a comb of stiff spines; antennae shorter than twice the width of the head. | . |
| Ameletus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Ameletus Am-a-lay-tuss | Brown Dun. | Maxillae w/comb of stiff spines; antennae shorter than twice width of head; gills: single oval w/dark hard band along margin; abdomen w/dark bands; tails much shorter than abdomen, w/broad dark bands & bristles entire length.. | Body yellowish brown to dark brown; wings barred dark gray, foremargin of hing wings w/sharp or pointed costal angulation.. |
| Ametropodidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Ametropodidae
| Sand minnow | Body s/w flattened; fore legs rel small; gills fr w/shrt hrs. | . |
| Ametropus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Ametropus
| . | Fore legs relatively short, mid and hind legs much longer w/ long tarsal claws; gills fringed with short hairs; found on downstream end of sand bars.. | Vein A1 of forewings attached to hind margin by several veinlets; hindwings with sharp costal projection.. |
| Baetidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Baetidae
| Small minnow | Labrum w/ notch in midline; body streamlined; head vertically oriented; antennae usually longer than 2x head; round or oval platelike gills; all claws of similar size and shape; 2 or 3 tails.. | 2 tails; FW w/short single or double detached intercalaries, minute (or no) hind wings; eyes of male on stalks. |
| Acentrella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Acentrella Ah-sen-trel-uh | . | Body somewhat flattened; paired dark dorsal spots on abdomen; prominent fringe of long setae on femur, tibia, and tarsi; very short middle tail w/fewer than 5 segments.. | . |
| Species | insignificans
| . | Mature nymph w/large hind wing pads; common east of Cascades.. | . |
| Species | parvula
| . | Tails alternately colored bands for entire length.. | . |
| Species | turbida turbid-uh | Minute Gray-winged Brown; Little Slate-winged Brown Quill. | Body stout & chunky; abdomen pale olive with tergites 1-8 dark olive; mature nymph w/ltiny hind wing pads; common east of Cascades.. | Forewing with paired marginal veinlets.. |
| Acerpenna | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Acerpenna Ah-sir-pen-uh | . | Keeled head; mitten palpi; 2 tails.. | . |
| Species | pygmaea
| Blue-wing Olive; Little Medium Olive Dun. | Body brown; tail bands at mid & tip; pointed slender 7th gill, veinlets conspicuous; middle tail 1/2 length of others.. | Dun: body medium olive, wings medium gray; Spinner: body dark brown, wings hyaline; 2 tails; emerges Aug 1 - Sep 30 aft/eve.. |
| Apobaetis | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Apobaetis
| . | Tarsal claws longer than tarsi; inhabit sand, slow water of larger rivers; rare.. | . |
| Baetis | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Baetis Bait-iss | Blue-winged Olive; Blue-winged Olive Dun; Blue Wing; BWO; Little Iron Blue Quill; Little Brown Quill; Little Blue-winged Olive; Rusty Spinner; Tiny Olive. | Single plate-like gills on abdominal segments 1-7.. | Hind wing exhibiting a pointed costal angulation; double intercalary veins.. |
| Species | alius
| . | Cold water taxa with a longer body and maxillary palps that are not mitten-shaped.. | . |
| Species | bicaudatus bye-caw-date-us | Light Rusty Spinner; Pale Olive Dun. | Abdomen medium brown w/tergites 1-10 pale in color; dark markings on segs. 3,4,7; veinlets indistinct.. | . |
| Species | flavistriga
| Dark Blue-winged Olive; Dark Gray-winged Olive; Dark Gray-winged Olive Dun; Minute Blue-winged Olive; Little Slate-winged Brown Quill; Dark Olive Brown Spinner. | Middle tail less than 1/2 length of others; tail bands at middle & tip; abdominal tergites 5, 9-10 pale.. | . |
| Species | notos
| . | . | . |
| Species | tricaudatus try-caw-date-us | Light Rusty Spinner; Light Blue Dun; Iron Blue Quill; Little Iron Blue Quill; Rusty Spinner; Dark Rusty Spinner; Light Rusty Spinner. | Body medium olive brown to dark olive w/faint dorsal stripe; tails: middle tail < 1/2 length others; gills veination conspicuous; rounded 7th gill.. | Body olive brown to dark brown; wings light to medium gray; length 8-9/4-6 mm.; 2 tails; emerges Oct15-Nov, Feb-Mar.. |
| Baetodes | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Baetodes
| . | Gills both at bases of legs, and under head; abdominal gills only on the first five segments.. | . |
| Callibaetis | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Callibaetis Caley-bait-iss | Gray Quill; Speckle-winged Dun; Speckled Dun; Speckle-winged Quill; Dark Specklewingd Quill; Speckle-winged Spinner. | Small, recurved flap gills on abdominal segments 1-4 or 1-7; 3 fringed tails of equal length with interlocking hairs.. | Minute hind wing with an obtuse costal angulation and numerous crossveins.. |
| Species | ferrugineus hageni fare-ee-genius hog-en-eye | Little Speckle-winged Quill; Medium Speckle-winged Dun; Pale Speckle-winged Olive; Speckled Spinner; Speckle-winged Dun; Speckle-winged Spinner. | Heavy tracheation; body mottled medium brown w/dark markings; gills pale yellowish brown.. | Body: dark olive/light cheamish tan Wings: dark gray brown w/white veination Length: 10-6 mm as season progresses. Tails: 2 Emergence: May-Oct. |
| Species | fluctuans fluck-chew-anns | Pale Speckle-winged Dun. | Body: mottled light brown w/ delicate median stripe; gills pale yellowish brown. | Body: dark olive/light cheamish tan Wings: dark gray brown w/white veination Length: 10-6 mm as season progresses. Tails: 2 Emergence: May-Oct. |
| Species | pallidus
| Bandwing; Pale Speckle-winged Sulphur; Medium Speckle-winged Quill. | Body: pale olive distinctly mottled with brown; gills pale olive yellow. | Body: dark olive/light cheamish tan Wings: dark gray brown w/white veination Length: 10-6 mm as season progresses. Tails: 2 Emergence: May-Oct. |
| Species | pictus
| Medium Speckle-winged Quill. | Body: pale brownish mottled w/brown; gills pale yellowish brown. | . |
| Camelobaetidius | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Camelobaetidius
| . | Tarsi distinctly bowed, tarsal claws nearly rectangular with lots of shorter spines on outer outer edge, and one long spine on the outside corner.. | . |
| Centroptilum | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Centroptilum Sen-trop-till-um | . | Hatchet-shaped labial palps; oval gills broader at middle; hind wing pads nearly invisible; tails w/thin dark banding every 3rd, 4th, or 5th joining, lateral bristles only first 3/4 of length.. | Hind wing w/hooked costal angulation; single intercalary veins.. |
| Cloeodes | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Cloeodes
| . | . | . |
| Diphetor | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Diphetor
| Blue Wing; BWO; Blue-winged Olive; Tiny Olive. | Relatively long and thin body; uniformly brown in color; bases of antennae very close together viewd straght-on; three tails of similar length; no villopore near bases of legs; gills on abdominal segments 2-7, simple.. | . |
| Species | hageni hog-en-eye | Iron Blue Qulll; Little Iron Blue Quill; Dark Brown Dun; Dark Brown Spinner. | Keeled head; relatively long and thin uniformly brown body; bases of antennae very close together viewd straght-on; ab/ segs. 4-5, 9-10 pale; single plate-like gills on ab. segs. 2-7, veinlets indistinct; middle tail greater than 3/4 length others.. | Body light olive to dark brown; wings gray to dark gray; length: 5-7 mm.; 2 tails; emerges mid-Mar thru Apr, Jun-mid Aug, mid-Sep thru Oct.. |
| Fallceon | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Fallceon
| . | . | . |
| Species | quilleri
| . | Resemble Diphetor hageni, but w/o villipore; gill on each side of first abdominal segment; hairs on legs are short; second segment of labial palps w/o a prominent lobe; may have light stripe down abdomen.. | . |
| Heterocloeon | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Heterocloeon Het-er-o-clo-ee-on | . | . | . |
| Paracloeodes | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Paracloeodes
| . | . | . |
| Plauditus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Plauditus
| . | Labial palp w/o a thumb-like lobe near end; row of long hairs on femur, but not on tibia and tarsi; vestigal middle tail very short (only several segments): 2 (non-vestigal) tails.. | . |
| Species | punctiventris
| Minute Gray-winged Olive; Blue-winged Olive Dun; Tiny Blue-winged Olive; Tiny Western Olive Dun; Little Slate-winged Olive Quill. | Abdomen w/faint dorsal stripe; sternites pale green with black dots on segments 2, 6, and 7; tail bands at middle.. | Forewing with paired marginal veinlets.. |
| Procloeon | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Procloeon Pro-clo-ee-on | Blue-winged Olive Dun. | Hatchet-shaped labial palps; teeth of mandibles fused all the way to end or shallowly divided; tails w/dark bands every 3, 4, or 5 segments, lateral bristles for full length of tails.. | . |
| Pseudocloeon | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Pseudocloeon Sue-doe-clo-ee-on | . | Small lobe at outer end of base segment of antennae; heart-shaped palpi; small, raised, bright patch of hairs (villopore) near base of legs; 2 tails; inhabit pools and slack water.. | Hind wings absent; double intercalaary veins.. |
| Baetiscidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Baetiscidae
| Armored | Thorax enlarged forming a large carapace-like shield extending over ab seg 5, has processes that point away from the body; nymph crawls out of water to emerge.. | Thorax stout; abdomen distinctly tapers forewing extends to outer margin. |
| Baetisca | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Baetisca Bay-tisk-ah | . | Enlarged carapace with several sharp dorsal spines and 2 lateral spines; tails fringed along entire length with tiny hairs. | Male dun w/short middle tail; wings w/heavy spotting, prominent cross-veining; forewing scalloped on margin; hind wing almost round; length 12-14 mm... |
| Species | columbiana
| . | . | . |
| Species | lacustris lah-cus-triss | . | . | . |
| Behningiidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Behningiidae
| Tuskless burrower | . | . |
| Caenidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Caenidae
| Small squaregilled | Head and pronota narrower than mesonota; no gills on abdominal segment one; gills on second segment large and square, visibly separate, and cover the other gills; hind wing pads usually absent; 3 tails.. | Robust thorax; small abdomen; 3 tails; no hind wings. |
| Brachycercus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Brachycercus Bra-key-circus | . | Rounded operculate gills overlap; abdominal segment 2 gills cover segs 4,5,6; head w/three prominent tubercles; forelegs much shorter than others.. | No hind wings. |
| Caenis | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Caenis Cane-iss | Angler's Curse; Little White Mayfly; Little White Spinner. | Body dark brown; head w/o prominent bumps; no hind wing pads; large square gills attached to back of 2nd abdominal segment; forelegs same length as others.. | Thorax brown.. |
| Cercobrachys | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Cercobrachys
| . | Three prominent bumps on top of head; forelegs much shorter than others; large nearly square gills attached to back of abdominal segment 2 and covering remaining gills; spines on 6th abdominal segment curve strongly inward.. | . |
| Ephemerellidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Ephemerellidae
| Spiny crawler | Diverse shapes and sizes, but usually robust, sometimes flattened, often with tubercles or spines; always with 3 tails; wholly dorsal gills (never on Ab2) which slightly overlap and undute sequentially.. | 3 tails; pronounced angle on fore margin of hind wings; short unattached intercalary veins on outer margin of FW. |
| Attenella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Attenella Ah-ten-ella | . | Tarsal claws w/denticles; gills start on abdominal segment 4, all similar in size; gills on ab. seg. 4 not (or partially) covering succeeding pairs, paired dorsal tubercles present on ab. segs.; all femora similar; all tails similar.. | Terminal segment of claspers 6x as long as broad.. |
| Species | delantala
| . | Blunt, rounded tubercles that curve outward on top of abdominal segments 4-8; tubercles on segment 8 are particularly broad and give that part of abdomen a flattened, platform appearance.. | . |
| Species | margarita mar-guh-reet-uh | Little Western Blue-winged Olive; Little Blue-winged Olive; Small Blue-winged Olive; Margaret's Mayfly. | Small, slightly pointed tubercles on abdominal segments 3-9; abdominal segments 4,5 & 8 pale.. | Body medium olive; wings medium gray; length: 6 mm.; 3 tails; emergences Aug 1 - Sep 10.. |
| Species | soquele
| . | Fairly well developed, strongly pointed tubercles on abdominal segments 1-9 or 2-9. ; abdominal segmentss 4,5 & 8 pale, but color pattern lighter than A. margarita.. | . |
| Caudatella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Caudatella Cord-a-tella | . | Middle caudal filament much longer than lateral caudal filiments; gills present on abdominal segegment 3.. | . |
| Species | edmundsi
| . | Abominal segment 10 w/pair of dorsal tubercles; no finger-like palp on side of maxillae; no dark shapes in the middle of the undersides of abdominal segments.. | . |
| Species | heterocaudata heterocaudata
| . | Maxillary palps well developed; ab. seg. 10 w/o dorsal tubercles; sternites w/narrow dark bar in middle, smaller dark bar on either side; fringe of hairs on tibia, tarsi , and femur of each leg; middle tail more than twice length of other two.. | . |
| Species | hystrix
| . | Maxillary palp well developed; long, sharp abdominal tubercles, some diverging to side; no tubercles on top of the head; mature nymph w/chevron-shaped dark marks on sternites 4-7; legs w/o fringe of hairs; middle tail much longer than outer.. | . |
| Species | jacobi
| . | The larvae aren't known, but judging by the pattern on the underside of the adult abdomens, the larvae called Caudatella cascadia and orestes, could easily be the larval stage of the Caudatella jacobi adults.. | Not much is known about Caudatella jacobi. It has only been collected as adults from British Columbia (in Kwieek Creek near Lytton at ~2500').. |
| Species | orestes
| . | Fringe of hairs on tibia, tarsi, and femur of each leg; if color pattern visible, sternites w/ broad dark bar on each segment; middle tail only slightly longer than outer two.. | . |
| Caurinella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Caurinella
| . | Gills all similar in size and attached to backs of abdominal segments 3-7; all three tails about same length, and ends of tails w/o fringe of long hairs along sides.. | . |
| Species | idahoensis
| . | No tubercles on top of abdominal segments; most distinctively, points on side of abdominal segment 9 extend back past segment 10 to base of tails, and flare upward.. | . |
| Dannella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Dannella Dan-ella | . | Plate-like gills start on abdominal segment 4, are large, mostly obscuring following gills; extra pair of small thin filimentous gills attached to outside edge of abdominal segment 1; segment 8 longer than 9.. | . |
| Drunella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Drunella Dry-nell-uh | Blue-winged Olive Dun. | Fore femora broad with teeth on anterior margins, if not, head and thorax with paired dorsal tubercles.. | Terminal segment of claspers 2x as long as broad.. |
| Species | coloradensis cholera-den-sis | Colorado Mayfly; Dark Olive Dun; Lesser Green Drake; Light Slate-winged Olive; Autumn Green Drake; Slate-winged Olive; Small Western Green Drake; Western Green Drake; Dark Brown Spinner. | Abdomen dark olive to brownish black; thorax a shade lighter; no head projections; pointed abdominal tubercles, tiny compared to grandis or spinifera; femurs with bumps; gills all similar in size; dark tail band mid-length.. | Body dark olive brown; wings dark gray; 3 tails; length 12-13 mm.; emerges Jul 20 - Aug 10.. |
| Species | doddsi dodds-eye | Dark Blue-winged Red Quill; Ginger Quill; Green Drake; Western Green Drake. | Body flattened; abdomen yellowish brown, w/o tibercles; thorax often lighter; head w/incomplete frontal shelf; ring of fine hairs encircling underside of abdomen; gills of similar size starting on seg. 3 .. | Body: reddish to dark olive brown Wings: medium gray Length: 13 mm. Tails: 3 Emergence: Jul 10-30. |
| Species | flavilinea flah-vill-lynn-ee-uh | Flav; Lesser Green Drake; Slate-winged Olive; Slate-winged Olive Dun; Blue-winged Olive Dun; Dark Olive Spinner; Western Slate Olive Dun; Western Green Drake; Small Western Green Drake; Dark Rusty Spinner; Dark Olive Spinner. | Adomen dark olive to brownish black; thorax a shade lighter; no head projections; pointed abdominal tubercles, tiny compared to grandis or spinifera; femurs with bumps; gills are all similar in size; dark tail band mid-length.. | Body dark olive; wings medium gray; length 7-10 mm.; 3 tails; emerges Jul 20 - Aug 10.. |
| Species | grandis flavitincta grand-iss | Western Green Drake. | . | . |
| Species | grandis grandis grand-iss grand-iss | Green Drake; Western Green Drake. | Abdomen blackish brown to mottled olive brown; thorax often lighter; tubercles on head and thorax; abdominal tubercles 8-9 less than twice as long as 2-7; femora broad w/o bumps on front edge; gills all similar in size.. | Body reddish to blackish dark olive; wings dark slate gray; length 14-16 mm.; 3 tails; emerges mid-Jun - mid-Jul.. |
| Species | pelosa
| . | Zebra-like black and white color pattern; pad of fine hairs on underside of abdominal segments 3-8; fringes of long, fine hairs on legs, tails, and body.. | . |
| Species | spinifera
| Small Western Green Drake. | Femora of front legs very broad, but don't have bumps on front edge; long sharp tubercles on back of head; abdominal tubercles 8-9 more than twice as long as 2-7.. | Body dark reddish brown; wings reddish brown; 3 tails; emerges Aug - Sep, late afternoon - early evening.. |
| Ephemerella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Ephemerella Ef-fem-er-ella | . | Finger-like max. palps well developed; femora & tails all similar; gills on ab. seg. 3; no disk of hairs on u/s of ab.; sides of ab. seg. 9 don't extended to the tails; tails approx. equal in length; last 2/3 of tails w/bristles extending laterally.. | . |
| Species | aurivillii
| . | Top hind edge of (at least) abdominal segments 3-7 w/small to medium tubercles; hind corners of abdominal segment 3 w/points similar to following segments; front of head smooth (no tubercles).. | . |
| Species | dorothea infrequens in-freak-whens | Pale Morning Dun; Rusty Spinner; Pale Morning Spinner; PMD. | Body uniform brown color, abdomen w/weak, light markings; no abdominal tubercles; points on the sides of segment 4 and 5 are relatively long compared to those of inermis; small oval gills on segs 3-7.. | Body cream w/olive cast; wings light gray; length 5.5-7 mm.; 3 tails; emerges May-mid Jul.. |
| Species | maculata
| . | Head much wider that long; most abdominal segments w/chevron-shaped dark markings on underside; spines cover most of the surface of femora.. | . |
| Eurylophella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Eurylophella Your-ee-lop-fella | . | Abdominal segment 9 longer than 8; tarsal claws with denticles; maxillae w/o palps.. | . |
| Species | lodi
| . | Plate-like gills start on abdominal segment 4; gills on seg. 4 are large, mostly obscuring following gills: claws w/denticles; maxillae w/o finger-like palps; 1st ab. seg. w/o pair of small, filamentous gills; femora and tails all similar.. | . |
| Serratella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Serratella Sir-ah-tell-uh | . | Fore femur w/o tubercles; top of abdominal segments 2-8 have small, sharply pointed tubercles on hind edge; entire tails with only minute, black hairs; tails approximately equal in length.. | . |
| Species | teresa
| . | Body w/o light banding; top of abdominal segments 4-7 w/small, sharply pointed tubercles on the hind edge, but not on segment 3; plain brown legs; tarsal claws w/9-10 teeth along inner edge.. | . |
| Species | tibialis
| Red Quill; Whitegloved Howdy; Small Dark Hendrickson; Small Western Dark Hendrickson. | Abdominal segments 2-8 w/small, sharply pointed tubercles on hind edge; rear edges of middle abdominal segments straight, often w/dorsal stripe down middle of abdomen; dark/light banding on legs.. | Body dark reddish brown; wings pale to dark gray; length 7-9 mm.; 3 tails; emerges Aug 1 - Sep 15.. |
| Timpanoga | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Timpanoga Tim-pan-oh-ga | . | Head w/complete frontal shelf; no gills on adominal. segment 3, gills on segment 4 covering succeeding pairs; tarsal claws w/o denticles; maxillae w/palps.. | . |
| Species | hecuba pacifica heck-cu-ba pacific-uh | . | . | Body dark reddish brown; wings dark gray; length 14-16 mm.; 3 tails.. |
| Ephemeridae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Ephemeridae
| Common burrower | Gills long with a feather-like fringe; tusks curve upward when viewed from side and are smooth (don't have small spines) on the half closest to the head; antannae w/whorls of long setae.. | Blotches or pigmntd xveins on wngs, FW A1 single, attchd to hnd margin by 2 or more veinlets; 2 or 3 tails. |
| Ephemera | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Ephemera Ef-em-ear-uh | . | Head w/ forked or bifid frontal process, mandibular tusks curving upward when viewed from side, w/hairs and spines near base; antennae w/whorls of long hairs along most of length.. | Wings with patterns of dark markings. |
| Species | simulans sim-yule-ans | Brown Drake; Chocolate Dun; March Brown; March Brown Dun; Great Red Spinner. | Abdominal and fore wing pad markings. | Body: brownish Wings: brown w/blackish mottling Length: 11-19 mm. Tails: 3 Emergence: Jun 20 - Jul 15. |
| Hexagenia | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Hexagenia Hex-uh-gene-ee-uh | Pale Evening Spinner. | Head w/conicical rounded, or truncate frontal process; mandibular tusks upturned when viewed from side, and w/hairs along entire length; gills on ab. seg. 1 very small, otherwise w/large feather-like gills.. | . |
| Species | limbata limb-bait-uh | Big Yellow May; Giant Mayfly; Great Lead-winged Drake; Burrowing Mayfly; Giant Yellow Mayfly; Fishfly; Giant Michigan Mayfly; Great Olive-winged Drake; Great Pale Yellow Drake; Great Sulphur Drake; Hex; Michigan Caddis; Sandfly; Michigan Spinner. | Rounded frontal process dome-shaped; double gills on 1st segment; tusks less than 1 .5x head length; tarsal claws.. | Body dark brown tergites w/lighter sternites; wings smokey gray w/olive cast, darkly shaded on margin; length 17-40 mm.; 2 tails; emerges May 20 - early Aug.. |
| Heptageniidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Heptageniidae
| Flatheaded | Flattened body; flattened horizontally oriented head; eyes & antennae visible from above; sprawling legs; gills on ab segs 1-7, most with tufts at base; 2 or 3 tails. | 2 tails and large hind wings; 2 pairs of cubital intercalary veins present in FWs; 2 tails. |
| Cinygma | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Cinygma Sin-ig-muh | Western Light Cahill. | Body w/strong color pattern of brown on tan; mouthpart visible when head viewed from top; head completely rounded; labrum less than1/8 width head; gills plate-like w/fibrils, gill on 1st abdominal segment 1/2 length those on 2-7.. | Length 6-11 mm.. |
| Cinygmula | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Cinygmula Sin-ig-mule-uh | Blue-winged Red Quill; Red Quill. | Front margin of head w/distinct notch in midline; maxillary palps are often visible from above sticking out from head; gills of abdominal segments 1-7 all similar, plate-like w/o fibrils; femora unbanded.. | First segment of fore tarsi half length of second.. |
| Ecdyonurus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Ecdyonurus
| . | Flattened body; front edge of the head w/few small dark spots; gills all similar in shape and size; plate-like gills, some w/fibrilliform portion; gill on ab seg 7 w/o fibrils; tasl claws w/several small teeth along the inside edge; 3 tails.. | . |
| Species | criddlei crid-el-eye | Little Gray-winged Dun; Little Slate-winged Dun. | . | . |
| Epeorus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Epeorus Ee-pee-or-us | Little Maryatt; Sulphur; Western Quill Gordon; Yellow Quill. | Abdomen w/o paired dorsal tubercles; 2 tails.. | 1st segment of fore tarsi equal to length of 2nd segment; heart-shaped femoral markings.. |
| Species | albertae al-ber-tay | Gray-winged Pink Quill; Pink Albert; Pink Lady; Slate Cream Dun; Western Gray-winged Yellow Quill; Salmon Spinner. | No prominent fringe of hairs on front of head; no ridges or tubercles on top of abdominal segments; all gills similar in shape, 1st pair don't extend under body; thorax medium olive brown; abdomen light to dark chocolate brown; 2 tails.. | Body gray or pale cream/olive; wings medium gray; length 9-11 mm.; 2 tails; emerges mid-Jul - mid- Aug.. |
| Species | deceptivus de-cept-ee-vus | Light Blue Quill. | Abdomen light to dark chocolate brown; thorax medium olive brown; 1st gills extend forward under the thorax, but don't curve inward and overlap; blunt femoral flange; 2 tails.. | Body gray or pale cream/olive; wings medium gray; length 9-11 mm.; 2 tails; emerges Jul - early Oct.. |
| Species | grandis grand-iss | . | Body dark brown, gills w/purplish hue; dense row of dorsal hairs down the middle of abdomen; first/last pairs of gills extend under thorax and abdomen respectively and overlap to form a suction disk; 2 tails.. | . |
| Species | longimanus lon-gee-man-us | Coquette; Medium Blue Quill; Quill Gordon; Slate Brown Dun; Western Quill Gordon ; Red Quill Spinner. | Body brown w/darker markings; femora w/dark markings and blunt flange; extended 1st and last gills meet under body to form suction disks; 2 tails.. | Body pale gray w/darker tegites; wings gray to dark slate; length 10-14 mm.; 2 tails: emerges mid-late Jul.. |
| Heptagenia | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Heptagenia Hep-tuh-gene-ee-uh | Pale Evening Dun; PED. | Similar size and shaped gills on all segments; additionally, fibrilliform gills on segment 7 as well as on others; tarsal claws with single basal tooth, no denticles; 3 tails.. | 1st segment of fore tarsi less than 1/2 length of 2nd segment; penis lobes are round.. |
| Species | solitaria
| Gray Fox; Ginger Quill Spinner. | Paired white spots on tergites; tufts on 7th gill. | Body: tan/yellowish tan Wings: pale gray w/yellowish cast Length: 10-12 mm. Tails: 2 Emergence:. |
| Ironodes | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Ironodes Eye-ron-owd-ease | . | Abdomen w/two rows of prominent tubercles (ridges in earlier instars) runing down each side of the middle; all gills similar in size and shape, only a plate-like gill on segment 7; 2 tails.. | . |
| Species | nitidus knee-tide-us | Slate Maroon Drake; Tiny White-winged Red Quill; Dark Slate-winged Purple Quill. | Thorax dark brownish gray; abdomen dark brownish gray w/darker dorsal mottling; paired abdominal tubercles; length 11 - 14 mm.; 2 tails.. | Tergites brown; sternites maroon; length 11 - 14 mm.; emerges Jun - mid-Jul.. |
| Leucrocuta | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Leucrocuta Low-crow-cute-uh | . | Flattened body; front edge of the head w/many small dark spots; gills all similar in shape and size; plate-like gills, some w/fibrilliform portion; gill on ab. seg. 7 w/o fibrils; tasl claws w/several small teeth along the inside edge; 3 tails.. | . |
| Species | jewetti
| . | . | . |
| Maccaffertium | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Maccaffertium
| Gray Fox; Cahill; Cream May; Cream Cahill; Light Cahill; Cream Cahill Spinner. | Strong dark/light color pattern on body; gills on abdominal segment 7 reduced to slender filaments, while other gills are rounded; 3 tails.. | First segment of fore tarsi less than 1/2 length of segment 2; penis lobes L-shaped.. |
| Species | terminatum terminatum
| . | 3 tails.. | 2 tails.. |
| Nixe | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Nixe Nicks-eye | . | Flattened body; front edge of the head w/few small dark spots; gills all similar in shape and size; plate-like gills, some w/fibrilliform portion; gill on ab seg 7 w/o fibrils; tasl claws w/several small teeth along the inside edge; 3 tails.. | Lentth: 8-11 mm.. |
| Species | simplicioides sim-plick-ee-oh-des | Gray Drake; Westen Ginger Quill. | . | . |
| Rhithrogena | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Rhithrogena Rye-throw-gene-uh | . | Flattened body; 1st & 7th gills enlarged, meeting or overlaping beneath abdomen; 3 tails.. | Stigmatic area of forewing crisscrossed with fine veinlets.. |
| Species | hageni hog-en-eye | Greengill; March Brown; Pale Brown Dun; Western Red Quill; Black Quill; Western Black Quill; Dark Tan Spinner; Western March Brown. | Body dark reddish brown; length 9 - 10 mm.; 3 tails.. | Body tannish olive to purplish black; wings mottled medium gray; length 9-11 mm.; 2 tails; emerges Jul - Aug.. |
| Species | robusta
| . | . | . |
| Isonychiidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Isonychiidae
| Bushlegged | Have two rows of long hairs on the inside of each foreleg; gills of abdominal segment one stick out to the sides not from underneath; gill tufts at base of fore legs.. | . |
| Isonychia | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Isonychia Eye-son-ick-ee-uh | Great Lead-winged Coachman; Slate Drake; Leadwing; Leadwing Coachmen; Whitegloved Howdy. | Forelegs with long spine-like hairs on inside edge of each foreleg; gills of first abdominal segment stick out to the sides (not from underneath); strong swimmers; crawl onto rocks to emerge; 3 tails.. | Hind wings with rounded fore margin; fore wings dark; middle and hing legs contrastingly pale.. |
| Leptohyphidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Leptohyphidae
| Little stout crawler | Enlarged 2nd gill. | . |
| Asioplax | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Asioplax
| . | Body generally flattened; large, triangular gills on 2nd abdominal segment; broad femurs w/dense fringe of long hairs; from dorsal view, appears nearly round; 3 tails.. | . |
| Species | corpulenta
| . | . | . |
| Species | edmundsi
| . | . | . |
| Tricorythodes | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Tricorythodes Try-core-ee-thode-ease | Trico; Tiny White-winged Black; White-winged Curse. | Body tan to dark brown w/light banding; large triangular (sometimes rounded) gills on the second segment of abdomen covering the remaining gills; 3 tails w/middle tail longer; hatches before daylight.. | Dun body (male) dark brown or black, (female) light green to pale gray; wings gray; legs; whitish gray; 3 tails (m) 2x body length, (f) 1x body length.. |
| Species | minutus my-new-tus | Pale Olive Dun; Tiny White-winged Claret Quill; Dark Brown Spinner; Reverse Jenny Spinner. | . | Body grayish; wings: clear; length 3.5 - 5.5 mm.; 3 tails; emerges Jul-Sep.. |
| Leptophlebiidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Leptophlebiidae
| Pronggill | Squat body; no gills on segment one; gills on the second abdominal segment large and oval or triangular and cover the other gills; three tails.. | 3 tails; no pronounced angle on fore margin of hind wings; 1 or 2 pair of main cubital intercalary veins of FWs. |
| Choroterpes | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Choroterpes
| . | Gills on first segment of abdomen have only a single point (not forked as in Leptophlebia); remaining gills (those on segments 2-6) are oval with a long, narrow, pointed tip at end.. | . |
| Leptophlebia | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Leptophlebia Lept-oh-flee-bee-ah | Black Quill. | Gills on abdominal segments 1 & 7 forked and much narrower than gills on 2-6, which are doubled and end in a slender process; lateral spines on abdominal segments 8 & 9.. | Middle tail shorter than outer ones.. |
| Paraleptophlebia | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Paraleptophlebia Para-lept-oh-flee-bee-uh | Blue Quill; Slate-winged Mahogany Dun; Dark Blue Quill; Dark Brown Spinner (f); Jenny Spinner (m); Paralep. | Long antannae, gills on ab. seg. 1 not much narrower than 2-7, all are forked; ab.segs. w/rows of small spines along their posterior margins; 3 long tails, all similar in length.. | All three tails equal in length, brown or pale in color.. |
| Species | bicornuta bye-cor-new-tuh | Blue Dun; Dark Blue Quill; Large Slate-winged Mahogany Dun; Dark Brown Spinner. | Branching on gills absent; conspicuous tusks; posterolateral projections on spines absent.. | Body dark brown; wings dark gray; length: 9-11 mm.; 3 tails; emerges Sep-Oct.. |
| Species | debilis de-bill-us | Blue Dun; Dark Blue Quill; Mahogany Dun; Dark Brown Spinner. | Trachea branching on gills absent; gills fork 1/5 from base; posterolateral projections on spines present on ab segs 8-9; frontal tusks absent. | Body: dark reddish brown Wings: dark slate Length: 9-10 mm. Tails: 3 Emergence: E,M:Aug-Sep W:Sep. |
| Species | heteronea het-er-roon-ee-ah | Dark Blue Quill; Dark Brown Spinner; Little Western Red Quill. | Tracheal branching on gills absent; gills fork 1/3 from base; porterolateral projections on ab seg 9; frontal tusks absent. | Body: dark slate to dark reddish brown Wings: dark slate gray Length: 7-9 mm. Tails: 3 Emergence: Jun-Aug 10. |
| Species | memorialis
| Dark Blue Quill; Dark Brown Spinner. | Tracheal branching on gills absent; gills fork 1/3 from base; porterolateral projections on ab seg 9; frontal tusks absent. | . |
| Species | temporalis temper-alice | . | . | . |
| Traverella | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Traverella
| . | Flattened head and body; gills with fringe of narrow, finger-like lobes off end of oval plate; use their modified mouthparts to filter organics from the water column; 3 tails.. | . |
| Metretopodidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Metretopodidae
| Cleftfoot minnow | . | . |
| Neoephemeridae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Neoephemeridae
| Large squaregill | . | . |
| Oligoneuriidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Oligoneuriidae
| Bushlegged | Body minnow-like; long hairs on inside of each foreleg (like Isonychiidae), but the gills on the first abdominal segment are on the underside (ventral) instead of sticking out to the sides (lateral).. | . |
| Lachlania | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Lachlania
| . | Body large and minnow-like, 1st pair of gills ventral; fringe of long hairs on the inner edges of fore legs used to filter filamentous algae from the current; 2 tails... | 2 tails.. |
| Polymitarcyidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Polymitarcyidae
| Pale burrower | gills long with a feather-like fringe; tusks don't curve upward when viewed from the side, have small spines on the half of the tusk closest to head; 3 tails.. | Middle & hind ligs sometimes poorly developed; 2 or 3 tails present. |
| Ephoron | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Ephoron Ef-or-on | . | Gills long with a feather-like fringe; tusks don't curve upward when seen from side, converge at tips, have small spines on half closest to head.. | Margin of wing with dense network of intercalaries; legs atrophied; females have two tails, no imago molt.. |
| Species | album album | White Drake; White Mayfly; White Fly. | No trachea on gills; 16-25 spines on tusks. | Body whitish, often w/grayish cast; wings pale gray to white w/purplish cast; length 11-13 mm.; 3 tails emerges Sep 1-15.. |
| Potamanthidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Potamanthidae
| Hacklegill | . | . |
| Pseudironidae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Pseudironidae
| White Sand River | Flattened, similar to Heptageniidae, but the antennae are near the front of the head; the legs are long, partly bowed, and point toward the tails; the claws are long; and the gills are fairly thin and pointed.. | . |
| Pseudiron | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Pseudiron
| . | Body flattened (similar to Heptageniidae), but antennae are near front of head, legs long, partly bowed, and point toward tails; tarsal claws also very long; gills pointed and fairly thin.. | . |
| Siphlonuridae | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Family | Siphlonuridae
| Primitive minnow | Streamlined; labrum w/o mid-notch; postero-lateral spines on segments 8 and 9; short antennae; mouthparts w/o comb of spines; platelike gills dorsally oriented on ab segs 1-7, and w/o dark band on outside edge; 3 tails. | 2 tails and large hind wings; wing vein CuA of FWs attached to hind margin by series of veinlets; 2 tails, rarely 3. |
| Parameletus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Parameletus
| . | Labial palps w/pincher-like ends; gills on abdominal segments 1 & 2 with single lamellae; ab. segs. w/prominent posterolateral projections.. | . |
| Siphlonurus | Taxonomic Name | Common Name | Larval Characteristics | Adult Characteristics |
| Genus | Siphlonurus Sif-lun-or-us | Adams; Black Drake; Westen Gray Drake; Gray Drake. | Body streamlined; large gills with abundance of tracheation, triangular double gills on abdominal segments 1 & 2; prominent posterolateral projections on abdominal segments; 3 tails, banded at middle.. | Round costal angulation of hind wing; male has pale band across eyes.. |
Created: 09/22/2004 Last modified: 02/15/2009 www.FlyfishingEntomology.com