Header image
Enter a name
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.

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Male Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Ventral view of a Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Dorsal view of a Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
This specimen was one of my first attempts to do a "wingprint" to digitally enhance an image of the wing venation for identification purposes.  I didn't have the background far enough back to be out of focus -- a mistake I later corrected.

Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Detached hind wing with contrast artificially enhanced.

Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin

This mayfly was collected from the Teal River in Wisconsin on June 3rd, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 24th, 2006.


Start a Discussion of Spinner

References

Male Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Collection details
Location: Teal River, Wisconsin
Date: June 3rd, 2005
Added to site: May 24th, 2006
Author: Troutnut
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy