Blue-winged Olives
Baetis
Tiny Baetis mayflies are perhaps the most commonly encountered and imitated by anglers on all American trout streams due to their great abundance, widespread distribution, and trout-friendly emergence habits.
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This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Troutnut.com User BrettB (Brett Billings)
Troutnut.com User BrettB (Brett Billings)
Real Name
Brett Billings
Location
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Biography & Thoughts
Originally from western Kentucky, started tying flies at age 11 in the middle of bass and catfish country. Was considered a bit odd. Eventually studied salmon flies under Ken Sylvia in Fairbanks, AK...Kim Rassmussen of Denmark and a few others. Worked for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife 1993-2004 as producer of TV show Kentucky Afield. Did master's of biology research on "An Aquatic Insect Bioassessment of the Cumberland River Tailwater in Southcentral Kentucky," completed in 2004 (Eastern Kentucky University). Working on Cumberland Tailwater fishing guide in spare time. Currently employed with US Fish and Wildlife in Shepherdstown, West Virginia doing National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Videos. Enjoy fishing the Potomac for smallmouth, trips to Alaska for salmon and Halibut with my wife, Shelly.
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Brett Billings
long-time tyer and amateur entomologist
long-time tyer and amateur entomologist