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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.

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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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Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph Pictures

This specimen strikingly resembles another specimen from about 1300 miles away in the Catskills, which I tentatively called Ephemerella aurivillii. This one has much more prominent abdominal tubercles. It may be that they're both the same species and I don't have my identifications straight.

Lateral view of a Ephemerella needhami (Ephemerellidae) (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin
Dorsal view of a Ephemerella needhami (Ephemerellidae) (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin
Ephemerella needhami (Ephemerellidae) (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin
Ephemerella needhami (Ephemerellidae) (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin
Ephemerella needhami (Ephemerellidae) (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin

This mayfly was collected from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin on June 5th, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 24th, 2006.


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Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: Long Lake Branch of the White River, Wisconsin
Date: June 5th, 2005
Added to site: May 24th, 2006
Author: Troutnut
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