Little Dark Hendricksons
Scientific Names
| Match | Scientific Name |
 | Serratella levis |
| Serratella micheneri |
| Ephemerella needhami |
| Serratella teresa |
 | Serratella deficiens |
| Serratella tibialis |
 | Serratella serrata |
Like most common names, "Little Dark Hendrickson" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 4 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.
Mayfly Species Serratella levis
These are often called Little Dark Hendricksons.
Mayfly Species Serratella micheneri
These are often called Little Dark Hendricksons.
Mayfly Species Ephemerella needhami
These are often called Little Dark Hendricksons.
This small and slightly noteworthy mayfly appears during the finest hours of the year. Ernest Schwiebert describes an Ephemerella needhami day in Matching the Hatch:
I have not fished a needhami emergence, but the exquisite nymphs show up often (though never abundantly) in my samples.
"It was a wonderul morning, with a sky of indescribable blue and big, clean-looking cumulus clouds, and the water was sparkling and alive. You have seen the water with that lively look; you have also seen it dead and uninviting in a way that dampens the enthusiasm the moment you wade out into the current."
I have not fished a needhami emergence, but the exquisite nymphs show up often (though never abundantly) in my samples.
Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph
View 5 PicturesI took quite a few notes at the microscope when I collected this specimen. They're attached to the appropriate pictures.
I found this specimen in the same collection as a similar one. Since I only have strange views of this one, it's possible that they're actually the same specimen and I somehow confused my picture-ordering and got the impression that they're different nymphs.
View 5 PicturesI took quite a few notes at the microscope when I collected this specimen. They're attached to the appropriate pictures.I found this specimen in the same collection as a similar one. Since I only have strange views of this one, it's possible that they're actually the same specimen and I somehow confused my picture-ordering and got the impression that they're different nymphs.
Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 8, 2005
Added May 26, 2006
Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun
View 7 PicturesSee the comments for an interesting discussion of the identification of this dun.
View 7 PicturesSee the comments for an interesting discussion of the identification of this dun.Region: Catskills
Collected Jun 1, 2007
Added Jun 4, 2007
Male Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Spinner
View 12 Pictures
View 12 PicturesRegion: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 4, 2005
Added May 25, 2006
See 14 more specimens...
Mayfly Species Serratella teresa
These are often called Little Dark Hendricksons.
Mayfly Species Serratella deficiens
These are sometimes called Little Dark Hendricksons.
Anglers in western Wisconsin, where these little flies hatch in good numbers on summer rivers, have termed them "Darth Vaders" because of the very dark color of their wings.
Serratella deficiens (Darth Vader) Mayfly Nymph
View 6 PicturesThis nymph has tiny, barely detectable tubercles (
Tubercle: Various peculiar little bumps or projections on an insect. Their character is important for the identification of many kinds of insects, such as the nymphs of Ephemerellidae mayflies.) on its abdominal segments, and I could not find the maxillary palpi. I have tentatively guessed that it is Serratella deficiens.
View 6 PicturesThis nymph has tiny, barely detectable tubercles (
View Full SizeA few (not all) of the abdominal tubercles on this Ephemerella needhami nymph are circled. They are especially large in this species.
Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 9, 2005
Added May 26, 2006
Mayfly Species Serratella tibialis
These are sometimes called Little Dark Hendricksons.
Mayfly Species Serratella serrata
These are very rarely called Little Dark Hendricksons.
This locally important species is rarely mentioned in fly fishing literature, and what little information is given is identical to that for Serratella deficiens. Knopp and Cormier say both species can produce good hatches.
New features!
