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3. What mayfly is this

First picture posting... sorry if it's not up to snuff. Thanks for the i.d.!

Joe-

Given the focus of the photo, identification is problematic. Having said that, my guess would be a Maccaffertium vicarium male spinner missing its forelegs. However, you have (11) separate Maccafertium species in N. Carolina, many of which haven't attracted the interest of flyfishing entomology authors.

Thank you for your reply,
Any suggestions on angle/angles that I should try to shoot next time to help in identification?

Thanks again!

Joe-

The angle is ideal. It's just that the photo is either out or focus and/or has insufficient resolution to blow up and see the necessary detail.

Come on now, guys. Doesn’t anyone have some healthy rebuttal? Please don't disappoint me like this!

Roger....
Who is going to rebutt you??? .....LOL....
Does this critter really have a green head/eyes ?
I looked at Jason's photos..... it looks like M.vicarium to me, but I'm not an entomologists....... FWIW.
What does 'vicarium' mean???
Since we are dealing with Latin names, as opposed to common names like 'march brown'; can you give us a link to a Latin/English translation? I searched for one, but didn't find one!
Thanks,
John

John-


Hopefully we will see.


The Biology Of Mayflies described one of the Maccaffertium vicarium synonyms, Stenonema rivulicolum as having eyes which are "pale gray with greenish tinge." The eyes appear sort of a pea green on my monitor. Perhaps CouxJoe can tell us whether the photo effectively captured the actual eye color.


I believe it refers to the parish of a vicar. Perhaps Louis will know the etymology.

What does that have to do with this particular insect???
I know the names are to honor the discoverer(McCafferty), but where does the 'vicarium' come into play.This is why FF's are more comfortable using common names like 'march brown', or 'gray fox'.
I don't see the word 'vicarium' in English or Latin dictionarys.
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel........ other than a 'fast moving train' ???
Someone should write a book called 'Entomology names made easy!'

John,

The eyes of some mayflies (esp. Heptageniidae) turn fluorescent shades of green or blue when exposed to bright light. They are normally dark when the insect first emerges (and return to that in the absence of light).

As for the meaning of "vicarium," the original name of this species was Baetis vicaria (Walker, 1853). It went through other variations--vicarius, vicarium--as the assigned genus was changed over the years. (I assume the endings changed to provide gender agreement with the new genus names.) One would have to go back to Walker to provide a definitive etymology. Like the words "vicar" and "vicarious," I assume it carries the sense of "replacement," "representative," or "substitute."

The common name, March brown, is borrowed from the name of a famous British mayfly that it resembled and that did begin emerging in March (unlike the American version). Perhaps the name refers to this New World substitute or replacement for that mayfly. (?)

Roger,
The picture is just too fuzzy for me to quibble with your guess. (Sorry.)

Ok..... I see a possible(?) connection there !


We want you to 'quibble'(?) with Roger, that is why we are here!
The guy takes a good photo and you say its fuzzy..... LOL...
Just stirring the pot!
John