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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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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.
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Millcreek has attached these 7 pictures to aid in identification. The message is below.
Female. November 11, 2013.
Female. October 29, 2013.
Female. October 29, 2013.
Female molting. November 14, 2013.
Female. November 21,2013.
Male. November 14, 2013.
Male. January 23, 2014.
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Aug 26, 2014August 26th, 2014, 7:47 pm EDT
Figured since there was a fair amount of discussion about Baetis nymphs lately I'd post these photos. They're all of the same species.

I've been able to key these nymphs to Baetis but have no idea which species they are. Any suggestions welcomed.

All were taken out of the Russian River. The nymphs range from 5.5-6.5 mm in length (excluding cerci). The date each photo was taken is under the photo. All specimens were alive when the photos were taken.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

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