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Mayfly Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts)

Taxonomic Navigation -?-
» Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts)
Species in EpeorusNumber of SpecimensNumber of Pictures
Epeorus albertaePink Lady00
Epeorus deceptivus00
Epeorus fragilis00
Epeorus frisoni00
Epeorus grandis00
Epeorus longimanusSlate Brown Dun00
Epeorus pleuralisQuill Gordon00
Epeorus punctatus00
Epeorus suffusus00
Epeorus vitreusSulphur00

9 species aren't included.
Common Names
MatchCommon Name
***Little Maryatts
**Western Gordon Quills
**Yellow Quills
**Small Western Gordon Quills
**Slate Cream Duns
**Pink Ladies
**Slate Brown Duns
**Slate Maroon Drakes
Pictures Below ↓
There is remarkable variety of form and color within this prolific genus of fast-water mayflies. Different species are found across the country, and several cause good hatches. Fly anglers are likely to encounter the lesser species on occasion, too.

The best Epeorus hatch in the East is Epeorus pleuralis, the famous Quill Gordon, the first abundant large mayfly hatch of the year. Epeorus vitreus comes a little later and is important in both the East and Midwest.

In the West, Epeorus longimanus dominates in fast, high-altitude streams, while Epeorus albertae inhabits slower and lower waters.

Hatching Behavior


All Epeorus duns emerge from their nymphal shucks (
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Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.
Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.
Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.) below the surface, often while still attached to the stream bed. Most species (with the exception of Epeorus pleuralis) take to the air quickly after emerging. These two factors make wet emerger patterns especially effective during Epeorus hatches.

Spinner Behavior


Female Epeorus spinners oviposit by making repeated dips to the surface. They deposit a few eggs, sometimes rest briefly, and then take off for another run.

Nymph Biology


Most Epeorus species require fast, pure water flowing over gravel or boulders. Some can inhabit moderate currents.


Pictures of 52 Mayfly Specimens in the Genus Epeorus:

Specimen Page:1234...6
Male Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly SpinnerMale Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Spinner View 14 Pictures
Collected July 11, 2017 from the North Fork Stillaguamish River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 12, 2017
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly DunMale Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Dun View 9 PicturesI kept this specimen after photographing it and it molted into a spinner in perfect condition, which I photographed here.
Collected April 30, 2007 from Dresserville Creek in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 3, 2007
Male Epeorus (Little Maryatts) Mayfly SpinnerMale Epeorus (Little Maryatts) Mayfly Spinner View 10 PicturesThis spinner and hundreds of others like it were dancing over the road through a very narrow valley carved by a tiny, steep tributary of the trout stream I was fishing. I got strange looks from a few passers-by, standing around on the road with a butterfly net...
Collected May 9, 2007 from Unnamed trib of Factory Brook along 42a in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18, 2007
Specimen Page:1234...6

9 Underwater Pictures of Epeorus Mayflies:

Underwater Photo Page:12
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In this picture: Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives), Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies), and Mayfly Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts). From Mongaup Creek in New York.


In this picture: Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives), Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies), and Mayfly Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts).
StateNew York
LocationMongaup Creek
Date TakenApr 19, 2006
Date AddedApr 22, 2006
AuthorTroutnut
CameraPENTAX Optio WPi
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In this picture: Mayfly Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts) and Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives). From Mongaup Creek in New York.


In this picture: Mayfly Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts) and Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives).
StateNew York
LocationMongaup Creek
Date TakenApr 19, 2006
Date AddedApr 22, 2006
AuthorTroutnut
CameraPENTAX Optio WPi
View Full SizeView Full Size and Comment (2X larger)
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In this picture: Mayfly Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts) and Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives). From Mongaup Creek in New York.


In this picture: Mayfly Genus Epeorus (Little Maryatts) and Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives).
StateNew York
LocationMongaup Creek
Date TakenApr 19, 2006
Date AddedApr 22, 2006
AuthorTroutnut
CameraPENTAX Optio WPi
Underwater Photo Page:12

Recent Discussions of Epeorus

Distance between the eyes of male Epeorus
Posted by Troutnut on May 3, 2007
There has been some discussion here before about Epeorus identification, especially the distance between the eyes of the adult males, which is one identifying characteristic. The keys say that the distance should be "less than the width of the median ocellus," but I have collected a few male duns that didn't quite fit that requirement.

We figured they were Epeorus anyway, so it's not a big deal, but a new specimen I collected sheds a bit of light on the question.

I collected a dun whose eyes were also a bit far apart, which you can see here:

http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/681

Then it molted into a spinner:

http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/682

The spinner's eyes were really almost touching, well within the description of the genus. So that answers our question: the duns may have a little wider spread and the gap will close up in the spinners.
ReplySynonym of vitreus 3 Replies »
Posted by GONZO on Oct 4, 2006
Last reply on Oct 4, 2006 by Troutnut
I believe rubidus = vitreus
Reply
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