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.
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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.
- 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.
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Stanislav on Apr 25, 2007April 25th, 2007, 9:16 am EDT
Hi, everybody a friend of mine make that pictures and we can`t identify the genus of that Mayfly...I`m sure there are people here that can help me and my friend. I`ll wait for your answers with impatience!
Best regards: Stan
Best regards: Stan
The life is too short to fish a bad fly
Stanislav on Apr 29, 2007April 29th, 2007, 11:13 pm EDT
What`s happen can`t anybody help me with some kind of answer!!!
The life is too short to fish a bad fly
Quillgordon on Apr 30, 2007April 30th, 2007, 2:07 am EDT
Stan,
I don't think the photo tells enough by itself. I think including size,color, etc. would help our resident entomologists.
I don't see a link to mayflies of Bulgaria, but I found this one for Greece.
Maybe it will help others........
link to PDF paper on FAMU
Good luck...
Qg.
I don't think the photo tells enough by itself. I think including size,color, etc. would help our resident entomologists.
I don't see a link to mayflies of Bulgaria, but I found this one for Greece.
Maybe it will help others........
link to PDF paper on FAMU
Good luck...
Qg.
Flyfishing is a state of mind! .............. Q.g.
C/R........barbless
C/R........barbless
Troutnut on Apr 30, 2007April 30th, 2007, 2:34 am EDT
From the general look it seems like something in the Heptageniidae family, but beyond that it really is hard to tell since most of us don't know our European mayflies at a glance.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
GONZO on Apr 30, 2007April 30th, 2007, 3:25 am EDT
Sorry Stan, I've looked at your specimen several times but the details (esp. wing venation and leg structure) just aren't clear enough to make a good guess. But I'll second Jason's comment that it's probably a member of Heptageniidae, maybe Rithrogena (?).
Taxon on Apr 30, 2007April 30th, 2007, 5:18 am EDT
Stan-
Unfortunately, the mayflies of Bulgaria seem not to have been included in the European Macro-Invertebrate Database. However, here is the list of Greek Heptageniid species, which would probably be similar to those for Bulgaria:
Dacnogenia coerulans
Ecdyonurus aurantiacus
Ecdyonurus dispar
Ecdyonurus helveticus
Ecdyonurus insignis
Ecdyonurus venosus
Electrogena lateralis
Epeorus assimilis
Heptagenia flava
Heptagenia sulphurea
Kageronia fuscogrisea
Rhithrogena beskidensis
Rhithrogena germanica
Rhithrogena hybrida
Rhithrogena loyolaea
Rhithrogena semicolorata
Unfortunately, the mayflies of Bulgaria seem not to have been included in the European Macro-Invertebrate Database. However, here is the list of Greek Heptageniid species, which would probably be similar to those for Bulgaria:
Dacnogenia coerulans
Ecdyonurus aurantiacus
Ecdyonurus dispar
Ecdyonurus helveticus
Ecdyonurus insignis
Ecdyonurus venosus
Electrogena lateralis
Epeorus assimilis
Heptagenia flava
Heptagenia sulphurea
Kageronia fuscogrisea
Rhithrogena beskidensis
Rhithrogena germanica
Rhithrogena hybrida
Rhithrogena loyolaea
Rhithrogena semicolorata
Stanislav on Apr 30, 2007April 30th, 2007, 6:09 am EDT
Thanks guys and sorry for the question hard up for an answer! May be from the next year I`ll go to study entomoology Abroad and will learn more about European mayflies!
The life is too short to fish a bad fly
Quillgordon on Apr 30, 2007April 30th, 2007, 6:36 am EDT
Stan,
Do you have a library that might have the information you need. There must be a record somewhere..... library,college,etc.
Then the 'residents' could better help you!
Where are the photos ????
Streams fish, women, etc.
John
Flyfishing is a state of mind! .............. Q.g.
C/R........barbless
C/R........barbless
Konchu on May 2, 2007May 2nd, 2007, 5:10 pm EDT
Was this from a small stream that becomes dry later in the summer or a larger stream?
Maybe I'm getting too tired, but it almost looks like some ameletid species I've seen.
Taxon on May 2, 2007May 2nd, 2007, 6:47 pm EDT
Konchu-
I certainly agree with regard to the abdominal markings. How about the eyes; are they laterally opposed on the female imago? Unfortunate the tarsal claws cannot be clearly seen.
I certainly agree with regard to the abdominal markings. How about the eyes; are they laterally opposed on the female imago? Unfortunate the tarsal claws cannot be clearly seen.
Konchu on May 3, 2007May 3rd, 2007, 2:07 am EDT
I had to stop and think about the basis of my ameletid guess; I was going mainly on the date of emergence, the generally dark coloration, size, and two tails. I'd have to check a book to see about the eye characters; I don't remember off the top of my head. IF it is an ameletid, it could be either Ameletus or Metreletus. You'd have to look at the venation of the wings up close to be sure. Really, we don't have quite enough to ID this beast, but it sure is fun to try.
Stanislav on May 3, 2007May 3rd, 2007, 7:02 am EDT
It`s definetly not a small one. Next Time when I go there ` these days I hope I``ll collect some insects- and`ll try to make better pictures !
Tight Lines !
Tight Lines !
The life is too short to fish a bad fly
Taxon on May 4, 2007May 4th, 2007, 2:51 pm EDT
Really, we don't have quite enough to ID this beast, but it sure is fun to try.
Konchu-
Ain't that the case. Well, if you come up with any further insights, be sure to share them. I'd be particularly interested in a source for keys to the European mayfly genera we don't have in N. America. Of course, species keys would also be nice, but most of my attempts at identification are ususally from photos, and frankly, even positive identification to genus (more often than not) eludes me.
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