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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Partsman
Partsman's profile picture
bancroft michigan

Posts: 321
Partsman on May 10, 2016May 10th, 2016, 5:34 pm EDT
Just wondering is there perhaps a waterproof identification book out there for us troutnuts. I had my book by Ann Miller in wading bag today and decided to go for a swim. The book doesn't look so good right now.
CaseyP
CaseyP's profile picture
Arlington, VA/ Mercersburg, PA

Posts: 653
CaseyP on May 11, 2016May 11th, 2016, 4:57 pm EDT
i just made one for our Casting for Recovery retreat. i went here:
http://www.troutnut.com/topic/9024/Free-Stream-Macroinvertebrate-Identification-Cards
and downloaded the cards. then i went online and bought waterproof paper at GeoShops.com and a bunch of good ink for my printer at the usual megastore. Hey, Presto! A waterproof book of underwater denizens.
A complete guide it is not, but for our "Bug Walk" in the stream with a bunch of beginners, you can't beat it!
"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra
Partsman
Partsman's profile picture
bancroft michigan

Posts: 321
Partsman on May 12, 2016May 12th, 2016, 2:49 pm EDT
Thanks Casey, I'm going give it a go, and I think its time for wading staff for me.

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