Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph Pictures

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Classification

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)

I 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.

This mayfly was collected from the Upper Midwest on June 8th, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com on May 26th, 2006.

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There are fairly prominent tubercles (

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A few (not all) of the abdominal tubercles on this Ephemerella needhami nymph are circled. They are especially large in this species.

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 abdominal segments 2-8, and none on segments 1, 9, and 10, not even at high magnification.

CameraCanon EOS 20D

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The fore tarsal claw (Tarsal claw: The claws at the tip of the tarsus, on an insect's "foot.") has 7 denticles (

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The denticles on the tarsal claw of this Ephemerella nymph are highlighted in red.

Denticle: Small tooth-like projects, often appearing like serrations on the tarsal claws of certain mayfly nymphs.).

This picture was taken through a low-powered microscope.

CameraCanon EOS 20D

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The maxillary palp (

The palp on the maxilla of an Ephemerella nymph (detached and photographed under a microscope) is highlighted in red here.

Palp: A long, thin, often segmented appendage which can protrude from certain insect mouth parts such as the maxillae. Also known as the < />palpus.) is 3-segmented and, in this photo, rather blurry.

This picture was taken through a low-powered microscope.

CameraCanon EOS 20D

View Full Size (2.7X larger)

There are postero-lateral projections on adominal segments 4-9.

There are postero-lateral (Lateral: To the side.) projections on adominal segments 4-9.

CameraCanon EOS 20D

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CameraCanon EOS 20D

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Jargon Defined:

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The denticles on the tarsal claw of this Ephemerella nymph are highlighted in red.

Denticles: Small tooth-like projects, often appearing like serrations on the tarsal claws of certain mayfly nymphs.

Lateral: To the side.

Nymphs: The juvenile, underwater stages of mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, and damselflies and other aquatic insects whose juvenile stages are covered by hard exoskeletons. The word can also refer to the fishing flies which imitate these creatures, in which case it is used as a blanket term for flies imitating any underwater stage of an invertebrate (except for crayfish and leeches).

The palp on the maxilla of an Ephemerella nymph (detached and photographed under a microscope) is highlighted in red here.

Palp: A long, thin, often segmented appendage which can protrude from certain insect mouth parts such as the maxillae. Also known as the < />palpus.

Tarsal claw: The claws at the tip of the tarsus, on an insect's "foot."

View Full Size

A few (not all) of the abdominal tubercles on this Ephemerella needhami nymph are circled. They are especially large in this species.

Tubercles: 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.