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3. Indentification please, Page 2

Very nice video.

Scruffyfish -

Thanks for the new photo. Its resolution is high enough that the lingering questions about the tails can be answered. BTW, Spence & Paul are right. Great video link. I've watched it three times. Amazing! Anybody reading this thread should check it out.

As to the tails, the new photo clearly shows that the long one is the terminal filament. This would pose a problem if it weren't for the fact that this genus is notorious for delicate tails. Damaged and missing tails seem to be more common than not in photos of these guys. If you look closely, the tails are blunt at the ends signifying they've lost some length, and while the terminal is longer, it is also visibly thinner.

The strongest case can be made for my initial speculation, L. johnsoni (Little Black Quill). The size is at the small end of the leptophlebid scale and the other species found in NH have severely truncated terminals. There is some confusion about this as Eric mentioned. Even Schwiebert himself wrote in his revised Nymphs that this species has a truncated tail. He was wrong. This species has a thin terminal that is as long or slightly subequal to the cerci. It is so unique in this regard that The mayflies of North and Central America, Edmunds, et. al. has the species listed as an exception in its dichotomous key. This character is also mentioned in the body of the genus topic.

These leptophlebids are amazing insects. A lot of angling literature reports that they are poor swimmers. Nothing could be further from the truth. While perhaps not having the sprint capacity of the baetids, they more than make up for that with endurance. Noted entomologist George Edmunds documented that they have been known to migrate out of their natal waters in search of suitable hatching environs as far as 400 yds. against current in a single day! Not bad for a half inch critter... :)

These photo links illustrate the tail issue.

Here is an example of what I believe is a male of the same species from NH:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/184905/bgimage

This one is an example of the larger and more common species L. cupida. Notice the truncated terminal filament:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/17553/bgimage

Impressive bug!

There's noticeable venation (possibly pigmented) in the wings too, something I don't think we see in other three tailed mays -Yes?

I remember hearing something about a blind squirrel...
Actually I do a substantial amount of work
In and around vernal pools starting this time of year and see quite a few Letophlebia immatures, as well as some adults.

Interesting observation on leptophlebids, Paul. By pigmentation, I assume you mean contrasting color pigmentation. The big burrowers and costal veins in some ephemerellids aside, I think you may be right. Though, there may be some examples out there that would make liars of us.:)

Here's a photo of Rhithrogena debilis I recently placed in the hatch page that illustrates your point. In the hand it looked to be a uniform smokey dun.
http://www.troutnut.com/fullsize/picture-im_regspec/4408

Awesome video. Thanks for posting it.
Bruce

Entoman.


I haven't seen any males with the big eyes, in the flies I've collected. Some where I have other photos that may show them. I would have sworn they were hendrickson, except for the lack of the large eyes.

Hi Scruffyfish -

Yeah, the differences are subtle and not readily apparent if a person doesn't know what differences to look for (or understand the scientific lingo used to point them out). For comparison here's a female Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson)
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/505 so you can toggle back and forth between the two looking for the characters I describe below:

1. Hind wing costal projection - See the shallow rounded point on the lower leading edge of the little wing? This is absent on your specimen.

2. Equal caudal filaments that approximate body length - You can't fully see the tails in these photos, but they are as described. With Leptophlebia johnsoni they are much longer, and usually not equal.

3. Forewings w/ basally detached marginal intercalaries - look at the trailing edge of the big wing. Notice the really short veins in between the full length ones that don't attach to anything except the edge? These are lacking in yours.

4. Forelegs similar in color to other sets; forefemora and foretibae similar in length - Notice how long the longest leg segment is in your specimen? And that the front legs are darker?

5. Prominent pronotum - this is the shell behind the head in front of the mesonotum (the shell covering the middle thoracic segment where the big wings are attached). Notice on your specimen it's shallow and slopes quickly to the neck?

These are some of the most noticeable differences that separate the two species.


I hope this helps. If not, let me know.