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 Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington
This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.
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.

Willmilne has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.
Willmilne
Manitoba Canada

Posts: 19
Willmilne on Jan 25, 2010January 25th, 2010, 8:02 am EST
Hi whilst doing some high magnification images of a mayfly specimen I noticed what appear to be eggs attached to the head. I'm curious if anyone could offer a suggestion as to what they are or even if they are eggs. I understand there are stonefly parasites is this also true of mayflies?

cheers

Will
Konchu
Konchu's profile picture
Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on Jan 25, 2010January 25th, 2010, 8:42 am EST
I'm not sure what those are base on the picture, but I often see mystery things attached to specimens. Sometimes, these are a fungus, and rarely they are aquatic mites. A frequent thing I see is little pale pouches of "goo" that appear as an artifact of the fixation and preservation process.

These could be eggs of some kind, but what kind I do not know. Might even be eggs from another mayfly. Many of these adhere to whatever happens to be on the stream bottom, even if it is another living thing.

By the way, is that a Baetisca mayfly?

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
36
Apr 4, 2013
by Entoman
21
Apr 8, 2009
by Falsifly
10
Apr 18, 2012
by Jmd123
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy