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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Sean266 on Sep 6, 2015September 6th, 2015, 9:29 am EDT
I do not know much about mayflies. Can someone help identify the type here? As specific as possible please. I was in Ladysmith VA.
Millcreek on Sep 6, 2015September 6th, 2015, 10:31 am EDT
Sean,
As far as I can tell it's Hexagenia limbata.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/559519
http://bugguide.net/node/view/156628
As far as I can tell it's Hexagenia limbata.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/559519
http://bugguide.net/node/view/156628
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
PaulRoberts on Sep 7, 2015September 7th, 2015, 4:51 am EDT
Could it be Anthopotamus (formerly Potamanthus)?
Millcreek on Sep 7, 2015September 7th, 2015, 6:06 am EDT
Paul,
Could be but the eyeball being dark on the bottom and lighter towards the top says Hexagenia as well as the overall coloration being darker.
Could be but the eyeball being dark on the bottom and lighter towards the top says Hexagenia as well as the overall coloration being darker.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Crepuscular on Sep 8, 2015September 8th, 2015, 10:29 am EDT
PaulRoberts on Sep 8, 2015September 8th, 2015, 1:02 pm EDT
Ah, yes. Sitting on a dark background has likely overexposed the fly.
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