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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 Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.
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.

Female Leptophlebia (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun Pictures

I collected this mayfly after user Al514 tipped me off to the presence of some Leptophlebia mayflies I didn't seem to have yet with his ID request of a male dun. This seems to be of the same species. I also collected a female spinner. Based on that spinner, I can tell that this is either Leptophlebia cupida or Leptophlebia nebulosa, but I can't tell which.

Unfortunately none of the specimens I collected made it through the hot, sunny day very well. So the pictures aren't great, but they're better than nothing.

Ventral view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York
Lateral view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York
Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York
Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York
Dorsal view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York
Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York
This specimen is on the left in this picture.  On the right is another one I collected but didn't otherwise photograph.  It's from the same stream and time, and presumably of the same species.  It shows quite a bit of natural variation.

Ruler view of a Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York
This specimen (left) pictured next to a smaller one of apparently the same species (right).

Female Leptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from Factory Brook in New York

This mayfly was collected from Factory Brook in New York on May 9th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18th, 2007.

Discussions of this Dun

Borcher's Drake
3 replies
Posted by Oldredbarn on May 10, 2010
Last reply on May 13, 2010 by TNEAL
I will apologise up front here for railing on about another "Michigan" thing, but here goes...There is a rather famous fly from the Au Sable area originally put together by Ernie Borchers called the Borchers Drake and it was designed to cover this bug. Originally the abdomen was wrapped condor quill but wrapped natural turkey tail fibers are used now. The tail is three moose mane fibers tied longer than normal and on these specimens of Jason's you can see why that works. It's tied in a Catskill style or as a parachute pattern. Hackle is Adams style and the wing is light blue dun...Have at it!

Spence

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Female Leptophlebia (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun Pictures

Collection details
Location: Factory Brook, New York
Date: May 9th, 2007
Added to site: May 18th, 2007
Author: Troutnut
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