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Dun Variants

Scientific Names

Like most common names, "Dun Variant" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 5 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.

Mayfly Species Isonychia bicolor

These are often called Dun Variants.
This is by far the most important species of Isonychia. Many angling books once split its credit with the species Isonychia sadleri and Isonychia harperi, but entomologists have since discovered that those are just variations of this abundant species.

See the main Isonychia page for more about these intriguing mayflies.
Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly NymphIsonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly NymphView 7 PicturesThis Isonychia bicolor nymph from the Catskills displays the prominent white stripe sometimes characteristic of its species. This is the first such specimen I've photographed, because members of the same species in the Upper Midwest have a more subdued stripe (and were once thought to be a different species, Isonychia sadleri). The striking coloration on this eastern nymph is more appealing.
Region: Catskills
Collected Apr 19, 2006
Added Apr 21, 2006
Female Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly DunFemale Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly DunView 13 Pictures
Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 14, 2005
Added May 26, 2006
Male Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly SpinnerMale Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly SpinnerView 15 PicturesI got several really nice pictures of this spinner. I also collected a female on the same trip.
Region: Northeast
Collected Aug 9, 2006
Added Aug 11, 2006

Mayfly Species Attenella attenuata

These are very rarely called Dun Variants.
This intriguing species has received a lot of attention in past angling books. Recent authors suspect that much of this credit was a case of mistaken identity, with Attenella attenuata receiving praise for the hatches of Drunella lata and Dannella simplex. Much of the credit was legitimate and accurate, but this species is no longer thought to be on par with its most popular cousins in Ephemerella and Drunella.

I have several specimens listed under this species, but I'm not positive the identification is correct.
Female Attenella attenuata (Small Eastern Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly DunFemale Attenella attenuata (Small Eastern Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly DunView 4 PicturesThis specimen came from the same hatch as a male.
Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 8, 2005
Added May 26, 2006
Female Attenella attenuata (Small Eastern Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly SpinnerFemale Attenella attenuata (Small Eastern Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly SpinnerView 11 Pictures
Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jul 1, 2005
Added Apr 22, 2006
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Last update July 19th, 2007.
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