Mayfly Species Rhithrogena hageni (Western Black Quills)

A species of the brunnea (now a synonym of R. hageni) group, penes distinctly outcurved at tip, with large ventral spine on inner margin.

Thoracic notum “bright brown ochreous, the peak of the mesonotum flavescent, a line adjacent to the tegulae and a streak below it and in front of these in a depression brown-black” (Eaton). Fore legs brown, tibia and tarsus blackish brown. Middle and hind legs yellowish brown, tarsi somewhat deeper brown. Femora marked in basal area "with a longitudinal brown-black streak tapering at both ends” (Eaton). Wings hyaline; fore wings very faintly tinted with light brownish grey in stigmatic area. Venation deep brown, paler at wing bases. 4 or 5 basal costal cross veins before bulla; 5 to 7 simple cross veins and 11-14 anastomosing veins are beyond bulla. Abdominal tergites pitch-brown, posterior margins darker. Sternites reddish yellow, immaculate. Tails dark brown, joinings mostly opaque. Tips of penes distinctly curved outward; a basal Iateral spine on outer margin, and a strong ventral spine on or near inner margin nearer apex. Apical spines weaker than in Rhithrogena morrisoni (See fig. 100).

A larger species than R. morrisoni, differing in detailed structure of penes as indicated. The allied species, Rhithrogena virilis, lacks the ventral median spine and possesses small sharp spine on the latero-apical edge of each division of the penes, which is not present in brunnea (now a synonym of R. hageni).

Described as R. doddsi

Body length 10 mm, wing length 11 mm

A species of the brunnea (now a synonym of R. hageni) group; penes broad at apex, almost erect.

Head deep brown; a pale band in region of antennae. Thorax brown; scutellum slightly paler; pleura mainly pale ochreous. Legs dark amber-brown. Fore tibia and tarsus smoky brown; a dark longitudinal streak on basal half of each femur, often entire femur appears shaded with black. Wings hyaline; venation fine, dark brown; basal costal cross veins obsolescent. Abdominal tergites brown; intersegmental areas paler. Sternites dull yellowish brown. Forceps and tails smoky brown. Penes almost straight, not outcurved at tip, wide apically; a ventral spine on each division, near inner margin, halfway between apex and lateral spine (see fig. 101).

Very closely allied to Rhithrogena futilis, from which it may be distinguished by the detailed structure of the penes, which are wider at tip and more erect than in that species; in futilis also, a small dorsal spine is present on each division of the penes.

The rose-red gills and small erect dorsal lobe on each of the intermediate pairs seems distinctive of the nymph of this species.