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3. Little White Mayfly

There is a Little White May Fly Hatch (size 28) on the Little Juniata River in Pennsylvania. Question: What time of day does this happen and how do you identify them? Do they look like tiny pieces of white fuzz? I read on the site here that they occur during the trico hatch. I've seen these things floating through the air and they always remind me a white fuzz. Is that them?

Hi Bruce-

Your description sounds like a Woolly Aphid.

Hi Bruce,

The Little J mayflies you mention are caenids (probably Caenis). They usually emerge in the evening in slow water, typically in areas with some combination of silt and weeds. The molt to the spinner stage occurs shortly after emergence.

They are distinctive little mayflies and easy to identify to family. Sometimes called "Broadwings" in Europe, they have broad whitish wings with a dark leading edge and few crossveins. They are also dipterous (no hindwings) and have three tails. The abdomen is usually whitish with a darker (brownish) thorax. Unlike most mayflies, they have the habit of resting with the wings outspread (spent) rather than upright.

The morning Tricos and the large evening White Flies (Ephoron) are usually much more important trout feeding opportunities at that time of the season, but carrying a few caenid imitations might be useful on occasion. From an imitation standpoint, I would recommend a synthetic Comparadun-style wing for both duns and spinners. Although the tails are longer in the spinner stage (especially the males), one pattern can suffice for both, and the Comparadun wing is easier to see than spent or semi-spent wings.

PS--Your "white fuzz" description made me think of pale midges, but I think Roger's suggestion is more likely.

Taxon, thanks for that aphid link! I saw one of those a few years ago and was completely baffled by it. I hadn't found another one since, so I didn't get the chance to mess with it once I learned my bugs.

If they're really mayflies, Gonzo's probably right, but if you're sure about the little white fuzzball and not so sure about the mayfly part, I bet it's Taxon's bug.

Caenis. I forgot about "The Angler's Curse."

Woolly Aphid. I never ceased to be amazed by you guys on this site. For years I've seen that Woolly Aphid and never had a clue.

Thanks,
Bruce

woolly aphid huh? I had a major "hatch" of these things in my back yard for a few weeks last summer. I though they were insects with some sort of fungus growing on them. Learn something new every day.

B.J.-

As I recall, it's actually secreted wax.