Thinking this is distinctus, but not sure

DayTripper	July 2nd, 2009, 5:13 am
Albany, NY Posts: 35	Found this female dun on the East Branch of the Delaware the first weekend in June. It was ~30mm long. I'm pretty sure it's a female distinctus dun, but was hoping someone could confirm. Thanks.
	http://www.eatthefly.com

GONZO	July 2nd, 2009, 8:41 am
Site Editor "Bear Swamp," PA Posts: 1636	Alex, This is Ephemera varia. A 30mm size estimate is well above what is typical for either E. varia or A. distinctus, though the size range for varia is underestimated in books like Hatches and Mayflies. They give 13-16mm as the range for both species, but the varia females that I've collected from the Yellow Breeches run between 17-20mm.

DayTripper	July 2nd, 2009, 9:12 am
Albany, NY Posts: 35	Thanks Gonzo, I really appreciate it. I knew it had to be one of the two (distinctus or varia), but as you mentioned, the large size didn't fit what my reference books had listed. I know looking at coloration is a no-no when identifying bugs, but the coloration seemed more of a match to the distinctus color plate in Hatches, so I ran with it. Thanks, again.
	http://www.eatthefly.com

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:

Title	Replies	Last Reply
Re: Coffin Fly Spinner In Male Ephemera simulans Mayfly Spinner by Jackson	6	Jun 10, 2009 by Martinlf
Re: Help with ID In the Identify This! Board by Calloway	2	Jul 9, 2008 by Wiflyfisher
Re: Stumper In the Identify This! Board by JOHNW	8	Jul 28, 2007 by Martinlf
Re: yellowish possibly night hatching mayfly In the Identify This! Board by Aafloyd	20	Nov 1, 2011 by Jmd123
Re: Dolophilodes (Philopotamidae) In Male Dolophilodes distinctus Caddisfly Adult by Litobrancha	1	Jun 12, 2007 by Troutnut
Beautiful yellow drake In Female Ephemera varia Mayfly Dun by GONZO	0
Re: Surprising Length In Female Ephemera varia Mayfly Spinner by Taxon	3	Sep 13, 2006 by GONZO
Re: Bingo for the hebe page! In Female Leucrocuta hebe Mayfly Spinner by GONZO	6	Nov 12, 2006 by Martinlf
Re: Ptilostomis? In the Identify This! Board by Taju	3	Nov 15, 2008 by GONZO
Re: pmd hatches in ny? In the Mayfly Genus Ephemerella by Trouthunter	3	Apr 19, 2009 by GONZO