Big Mayfly needs ID...Taxon?

Discussion in 'Fly Fishing Entomology' started by Itchy Dog, May 8, 2009.

  1. Itchy Dog Some call me Kirk Werner

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    Observed this large specimen crawling on the side of the house this evening.
    Based on initial inspection and the general coloration, I thought it might be the same species
    as one that I photographed a few years ago and Taxon ID'd as a Brown Dun:

    http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11862&ppuser=5427

    But in looking at the photos side by side, they're clearly different bugs. Plus, this one was about twice
    the size of the Brown Dun from before (a good 3/4" from head to butt, not counting the tails).

    Perhaps Roger or someone else can weigh in with a positive identification.

    Whatever happened to the innocent days when a bug was just a bug?
    Now everything is viewed as trout food.
  2. Richard Olmstead BigDog

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    Itchy -
    Until Roger pipes in and proves me wrong, I'm going to say it looks like a March Brown dun (Rithrogenia, maybe R. morrisonii). The two tails, main wings with a darkish section near the leading edge caused by the closely dividing veins, and the eyes set on tip of a broad head so that they almost look like they are staring straight up, instead of ahead are what I think make the case for Rithrogenia.

    Thanks to Hafele and Hughes "Western Mayfly Hatches" for any insight I have to offer.
    Dick
  3. Dave Montgomery Banned or Parked

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    Come on...that's a Bacon Fly if I've every seen one....
    Check your books. Most popular mayfly pattern in the US.
  4. Taxon Moderator

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    Kirk-

    Your mayfly would be an Ameletus female subimago. See circled forewing veinlets attaching longitudinal vein CuA to the rear margin:

    [IMG]
  5. Dave Montgomery Banned or Parked

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    Just as I said.... baconfly.....also known as an Ameletus female subimago, like Tax said.......
  6. Itchy Dog Some call me Kirk Werner

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    Most impressive, Roger. Thanks. Don't see many mayflies where our house is...must've blown in on yesterday's wind from a body of water where it hatched...? Other than a seasonal creek (trickle) here or there, the nearest moving water is the Snoqualmie, which is about a mile by way of the crow (or mayfly). There's some standing water in a marsh about a 1/2 mile by way of the same crow/mayfly. Would a marsh produce these?

    Must admit, bacon sounds good right about now.
  7. Taxon Moderator

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    Hi Kirk-


    Ameletus nymphs are not found in lakes, just in running water, generally at higher elevations, but apparently, not exclusively so.
  8. Itchy Dog Some call me Kirk Werner

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    Thanks again, Roger. Interesting would it be to know how it got here and from whence it came.