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Lateral view of a Male Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #43 in New York
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.

Lateral view of a Male Callibaetis ferrugineus (Baetidae) (Speckled Dun) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #304 in Idaho
This is one of four specimens I photographed together from the same hatch, also including a nymph, a male dun, and a female dun. According to the key in Check (1982), the clear wing venation on the associated dun shows that it is either Callibaetis ferrugineous or Callibaetis pallidus, and the characteristics to tell the difference between those two are maddening for both the nymph and adult. If the partial shading in the wing is "medium to dark brown," and the dots on the body are "fuscous to dark brown," then it's ferrugineous. If the wing shading is "chestnut brown" and dots on the body are "yellowish to chestnut brown," then it's pallidus. However, several spare specimens I collected alongside the one in the photo have no markings on the wing at all, which would seemingly indicate ferrugineous according to the key. It's enough for a contingent ID, but I still wouldn't rule out pallidus.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
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Male Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Male Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho
Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho
Dorsal view of a Male Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho
Ventral view of a Male Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho
Ruler view of a Male Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.

This mayfly was collected from the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho on July 31st, 2020 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on August 16th, 2020.


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Male Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Collection details
Location: Henry's Fork of the Snake River, Idaho
Date: July 31st, 2020
Added to site: August 16th, 2020
Author: Troutnut
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