Mayfly ID

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Cold
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2010/05/25 07:42:00 (permalink)

Mayfly ID

Saw a mayfly I couldn't identify last night while sitting at the bar. Thought maybe you guys could help out.

Small mayfly, maybe about an 18 or possibly a 20.

Cream colored abdomen. 3 tails. Fairly clear wings with no mottling. Medium brown thorax.

Never seen anything like it, but due to its small size, its entirely possible I'd have never noticed one without either a heavy hatch or, as in this case, it landing on the side of my drink.
#1

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    RIZ
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/25 09:55:29 (permalink)
    you out there chasing barflies again?  you had me until you got to the 3 tails part and clear wings.
    did it look like this, a PMD
    http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/28/Mayfly-Ephemerella-Hendricksons-Sulphurs-PMDs
    or a BWO
    http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/177/Mayfly-Acerpenna-Blue-Winged-Olives
     
    here is an article to take you thru the steps to identify bugs
     
    http://hatchesmagazine.com/page/january2006/86
     
    post edited by RIZ - 2010/05/25 10:15:40
    #2
    cooljauman
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/25 11:02:29 (permalink)

    hahaha, you sure you weren't drinking absinthe??




    If the world needed and enema, they'd put the tube in Philadelphia. Go Pens!

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    #3
    Cold
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/25 11:15:41 (permalink)
    Thanks RIZ...from your links, I'm pretty sure it was in the Caenis family. Lots of good links in there!

    @cooljauman: The snozberries taste like snozberries!
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    dano
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/25 11:49:24 (permalink)
    Para. Mollis (little blue quill) male spinner.  size 20.
    Many of these bugs in PA and they hatch in late May to early June.
     
    The pics on troutnut show only the male dun.
     The abdomen on the male spinners are white to almost clear (referred to as hyalene)
     
    http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/764/Mayfly-Paraleptophlebia-mollis-Blue-Quill
     
    #5
    thedrake
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/25 12:26:09 (permalink)
    Dano just said what I was thinking....probably P. Mollis.
    #6
    Cold
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/26 12:36:46 (permalink)
    Hmmm, after checking out that link...I'm not sure...I'm leaning toward the Mollis now.

    In any event...would either of those flies be of any concern to the fisherman? Or are they not significant enough to be worth imitation?
    #7
    thedrake
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/26 13:49:50 (permalink)
    I can't comment on the caenis, since we don't see them here, but the p. Mollis can provide some action, although the're usually ignored around here, when better hatches are present.
    #8
    dano
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    RE: Mayfly ID 2010/05/26 14:52:11 (permalink)
     The Caenis around here hatch in July and can get pretty darn awesome. But..... they're a #28.
     
    We have a few streams up here that get late morning Mollis spinners and sometimes the fish key on them.
    But, like Drake said, usually evenings get a better mix of other bug.
    I carry few light males and dark females in #20.

     
     
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