Can you identify this aquatic insect by any of the following? Order common name Order taxonomic name Family common name Family taxonomic name Genus common name Genus taxonomic name Lifestage
Hi Gary- Mayfly, ephemeroptera, nymph are correct. However, Hexagenia nymphs are burrowers. Please see Mayfly Behavioral Categories. IDENTIFICATIONS Order common name: Mayfly (Gary Knowels) Order taxonomic name: Ephemeroptera (Gary Knowels) Family common name: ??? Family taxonomic name: ??? Genus common name: ??? Genus taxonomic name: ??? Lifestage: Nymph (Gary Knowels)
Looks like a clinger to me. Which would put it in rivers. I see three tails. That would narrow it down to about 15 genera in the pacific nw. This could be tough. Jay
Hi Gary- Sure is. IDENTIFICATIONS Order common name: Mayfly (Gary Knowels) Order taxonomic name: Ephemeroptera (Gary Knowels) Family common name: ??? Family taxonomic name: Heptageniidae (Gary Knowels) Genus common name: ??? Genus taxonomic name: ??? Lifestage: Nymph (Gary Knowels)
Sure would. IDENTIFICATIONS Order common name: Mayfly (Gary Knowels) Order taxonomic name: Ephemeroptera (Gary Knowels) Family common name: Flatheaded Mayflies (Travis Bille) Family taxonomic name: Heptageniidae (Gary Knowels) Genus common name: ??? Genus taxonomic name: ??? Lifestage: Nymph (Gary Knowels)
Hi Kelvin- Welcome to the Flyfishing Entomology subforum, and congratulations on having the courage to get your feet wet. However, genus Ephemerella is in family Ephemerellidae (Spiny Crawler Mayflies), whereas this mayfly is in family Heptageniide (Flatheaded Mayflies).
Ecdyonursus simplicioides, Pale Western Cahill? Info from Nymphs Volume I: The Mayflies by Schwiebert
I think Gary has it http://bugguide.net/node/view/700245/bgimage Question If I put three tails and flowing water and pnw in Flyfishingentymology.com This family does not come up Jay
Hi Kelvin, Gary, and Jay- Yes, as Jay (and maybe Gary) cleverly discovered, I also believe this mayfly to be of genus Ecdyonurus. However, as my opinion is not infallible, in an attempt to avoid making an erroneous identification here on the Flyfishing Entomology Subfrom (in my own backyard, so-to-speak), I emailed a practicing professional entomologist with whom I've had previous contact, and requested a second opinion. Have not yet heard back from him. As Jay accurately points out, my Adult Mayfly Identification query does not list genus Ecdyonurus. The query was developed in February of 2004, and at the time, I did not have access to all of the required attributes of genus Ecdyonurus adults, so they was not included in the query. However in May of 2009, I developed N. American Mayfly Species Query. This is a much more powerful and sophisticated query. It lists all mayfly species (or subspecies) recognized by Mayfly Central. In addition, it allows searching on (and selective listing of) taxonomic and descriptive body part (and various other) fields for nymphs, duns, and spinners. And perhaps best of all, it allows single click display of all fields contained in the database for that particular species (or subspecies). Enjoy.
Hi Gary, Just this evening, I received back (what I consider to be) adequate confirmation of genus Ecdyonurus. As to the genus common name, in keeping with Schwiebert, let's simply go with Western Cahill. IDENTIFICATIONS Order common name: Mayfly (Gary Knowels) Order taxonomic name: Ephemeroptera (Gary Knowels) Family common name: Flatheaded Mayflies (Travis Bille) Family taxonomic name: Heptageniidae (Gary Knowels) Genus common name: Western Cahill (Gary Knowels) Genus taxonomic name: Ecdyonurus (Gary Knowels) Lifestage: Nymph (Gary Knowels)
