Mayfly Species Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson)
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
» Family Ephemerellidae (Hendricksons, Sulphurs, PMDs, BWOs)
» Genus Ephemerella (Hendricksons, Sulphurs, PMDs)
» Species needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson)
Common Names
| Match | Common Name |
 | Little Dark Hendrickson |
 | Dark Hendrickson |
| Chocolate Spinner |
 | Chocolate Dun |
| Blue-Winged Red Quill |
| Hendrickson |
"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.
Where & When
There are reports of this species producing fishable hatches in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.Most authors say this hatch begins and peaks in late June and dwindles through most of July. However, in Mayflies: An Angler's Study of Trout Water Ephemeroptera , Knopp & Cormier list a different emergence date than other authors, stating that the hatch can begin in late May. I suspect this refers to the warmer climate of southern Pennsylvania, while others gave dates for the Catskills and Michigan.
Hatching Behavior
Time Of Day (?): Late Morning
Knopp & Cormier report that the male and female duns are different colors and vary from stream to stream.Spinner Behavior
Time Of Day: EveningHabitat: Riffles and runs
Nymph Biology
Current Speed: Medium to Fast
Substrate: Usually vegetation, occasionally elsewhere.
This species has an unusually strong affinity for aquatic vegetation. Many authors have noted this and it is consistent with my samples as well.Substrate: Usually vegetation, occasionally elsewhere.
17 Mayfly Specimens in the Species Ephemerella needhami:
Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Spinner
View 12 Pictures
View 12 PicturesRegion: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 4, 2005
Added May 25, 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
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
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