Mayfly Genus Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills)
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
» Family Leptophlebiidae (Black Quills and Blue Quills)
» Genus Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills)
25 species aren't included.
Common Names
Their size makes them difficult to match with old techniques. In the 1950s Ernest Schwiebert wrote in Matching the Hatch:
"The Paraleptophlebia hatches are the seasonal Waterloo of most anglers, for without fine tippets and tiny flies an empty basket is assured."
Fortunately, modern anglers with experience fishing hatches of tiny Baetis and Tricorythodes mayflies are better prepared for Paraleptophlebia.
Paraleptophlebia adoptiva is by far the most important species of this genus in the East and Midwest. It's hard to make sense of so many other species, but some can be considered in groups because they often hatch together:
- Paraleptophlebia mollis, Paraleptophlebia guttata, and Paraleptophlebia strigula complement each other in the East in late spring and early summer.
- Paraleptophlebia debilis and Paraleptophlebia praepedita occur together in the East in the fall.
- Paraleptophlebia debilis and Paraleptophlebia bicornuta occur together in the West in the fall.
Hatching Behavior
Most species at most times emerge in classic mayfly style on the surface and ride the water for a while before flying away. Floating nymph patterns and emergers are also effective. The hatch may last for a few hours each day.Knopp and Cormier note in Mayflies: An Angler's Study of Trout Water Ephemeroptera that some Paraleptophlebia mayflies have been observed to emerge by crawling out onto shore when the water is high in the Spring, but they give no further details about which species do this.
Spinner Behavior
The females may drop their eggs from high above the water, make short dives to dip their abdomens into the water, or land on the water to lay their eggs.Nymph Biology
Current Speed: Moderate to fast
Substrate: Sand, gravel, detritus (Detritus: Small, loose pieces of decaying organic matter underwater.)
Although classified as crawlers, Paraleptophlebia nymphs swim very well. They are generally tolerant of faster water than Leptophlebia and inhabit pockets in riffles as well as moderate runs.Substrate: Sand, gravel, detritus (Detritus: Small, loose pieces of decaying organic matter underwater.)
21 Mayfly Specimens in the Genus Paraleptophlebia:
Paraleptophlebia adoptiva (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun
View 14 Pictures
View 14 PicturesRegion: Northeast
Collected Apr 30, 2007
Added May 3, 2007
Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills) Mayfly Spinner
View 15 PicturesI wasn't actually fishing the river where I caught this one. I was just scouting, didn't like the look of the water, and as I was walking back to the car this little dun landed on my vest. Why can't they all be so easy to collect?
View 15 PicturesI wasn't actually fishing the river where I caught this one. I was just scouting, didn't like the look of the water, and as I was walking back to the car this little dun landed on my vest. Why can't they all be so easy to collect?Region: Catskills
Collected Sep 8, 2006
Added Oct 4, 2006
Paraleptophlebia mollis (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun
View 6 Pictures
View 6 PicturesRegion: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 8, 2005
Added May 26, 2006
2 Streamside Pictures of Paraleptophlebia Mayflies:
View Full Size
I found this little Paraleptophlebia dun along a Catskill stream, but not enough of her brethren were emerging to get the early-season trout to rise.
In this picture: Mayfly Genus Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills).
In this picture: Mayfly Genus Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills).
After I took this photo, this specimen was swept out of this tiny pool into a riffle downstream, where I swooped it up with my aquarium net and brought it home to photograph. See it up close here.
In this picture: Mayfly Species Paraleptophlebia adoptiva (Blue Quill).
In this picture: Mayfly Species Paraleptophlebia adoptiva (Blue Quill).
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