Caught in a dip net from a sweep of a tiny stream. Photos were taken while it was under water.
Newfoundland Nature
By Barry Hicks on 5/16/2015 10:18:16 PM
Mardon, I think these are Stoneflies. Order Plecoptera. Great photos.
By Frank on 5/17/2015 11:08:33 AM
The tails(2) and gills are Mayfly. Looks like Baetis Vegans, 6-8mm?
By Mardon on 5/17/2015 11:38:38 AM
Barry, Mayfly is confirmed by Frank (see post above) and also by an editor at BugGuide.net. I'm pretty confident that Mayfly is correct. Do you still think stonefly? Frank, Thanks for the comment. It measured 9mm nose to body rear. I looked up the taxonomy for Baetis Vagans and I believe that the current valid name is Baetis tricaudatus. Sound correct to you?
By Barry Hicks on 5/17/2015 11:42:35 AM
Most Mayflies have three tails. If we look closely at the photos we can see the third tail (lighter one between the two outer ones). Frank, you are correct. Mayfly for sure. I was quick to message based on the number of tails that I saw. Plecoptera have gills on the thorax as tufts. The flat (leaf-like) gills on the abdomen are typical of Mayflies. Thanks
By Frank on 5/17/2015 1:58:38 PM
Mardon not sure on the tricaudatus, the reference I have lists its location mid-west to westMy reference is 1983/4 and it is a fly fisherman's guide so it may not be as definite as other references, definitely Baetis though.Barry you may wish to look at www.troutnut.com they have some great photos of many stream insects, great video of a giant stonefly. Sorry had to edit, not all mayflies have three tails, a few like Baetis and pseudocleon have two.
By Frank on 5/17/2015 8:36:37 PM
Mardon, thank you for the pointer, I was unaware that vagans and tricaudatus are now the same insect, that's science working.Barry, and apologies to you, the nymph does have three tails, I thought that was a shadow. I had been confused with the dun and the spinners, they have the two tails.
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