The Mayfly Guide: Quick and Easy Steps to Identifying Nymphs, Duns, and Spinners - Brossura

Caucci, Al

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0979903793 ISBN 13: 9780979903793

Casa editrice: Scott & Nix Inc, 2011

Riassunto

For anglers looking to increase their catch, this indispensable guide reveals the steps to easily and confidently identifying the three stages&;nymph, dun, and spinner&;of many common mayfly species found in North America. Including information on when and where mayflies hatch and how trout feed on them along with illustrated species charts, this reference avoids the abstractions of complex scientific keys and words and instead favors a practical and visual approach that supports quick learning. Waterproof pages and a small trim size enhance the guide&;s portability, making it as sensible as it is useful.

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull'autore

Al Caucci is a world-renowned angler and the author of Mayfly Easy ID. He is a former board member of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum and is one of the founders of the Friends of the Upper Delaware River. He was inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame in 2006 and currently operates Al Caucci Fly Fishing, a fly-fishing destination travel service. He lives in Starlight, Pennsylvania.

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The Mayfly Guide

Quick and Easy Steps to Identifying Nymphs, Duns, and Spinners

By Al Caucci

Scott & Nix, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Al Caucci and Scott & Nix, Inc.
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-9799037-9-3

Contents

Introduction, 
Nymph Anatomy, 
Dun and Spinner Anatomy, 
How to Use This Book, 
Identifying Nymphs, 
Identifying Duns and Spinners, 
Illustrated Species Charts, 
Pronunciation Guide, 
Index of Common Names, 
Species Index, 
Selected Bibliography, 

CHAPTER 1

Identifying Nymphs

Burrowers and Swimmers

Measure from the front of the head to the end of the wingpad, and from the end of the wingpad to the end of the abdomen. If A is smaller than B, the nymph is a Burrower or Swimmer. Jump to the Burrowers and Swimmers page.

Clingers and Crawlers

Measure from the front of the head to the end of the wingpad, and from the end of the wingpad to the end of the abdomen. If A is bigger than, or equal to, B, the nymph is a Clinger or Crawler. Jump to the Clingers and Crawlers page.

Borrowers and Swimmers

Burrowers

If the head has tusks, the nymph ia a Burrower | Jump to the Burrowers page.

Swimmers

If the head has no tusks, the nymph is a Swimmer | Jump to the Swimmers page.

Clingers and Crawlers

Clingers

If the width of the head (A) is greater than the width of the abdomen (B), the nymph is a Clinger| Jump to the Clingers page.

Crawlers

If the width of the head, including eyes, (A) is less than or equal to the width of the abdomen (B), the nymph is a Crawler | Jump to the Crawlers page.

Burrowers (Head with tusks)

Ephemera 12–30 mm | common | Jump to Ephemera.

Hexagenia 16–35 mm | common | Jump to Hexagenia.

Anthopotamus (Formerly Potomanthus) 8–16 mm | common | Jump to Anthopotamus.

Ephoron 9–14 mm | fairly common | Jump to Jump to Ephoron.

Paraleptophlebia 6–10 mm | common | Jump to Paraleptophlebia.

Note: Paraleptophlebia is an exception and is a crawler, not a burrower.

Swimmers (Head without tusks)

Baetis 4–9 mm | common | Jump to Baetis.

Acentrella, et al. (Formerly Pseudocloeon) 3–5 mm | common | Jump to Acentrella.

Procloeon (Formerly Cloeon) 3–9 mm | uncommon | Jump to Procloeon.

Centroptilum 5–7 mm | uncommon | Jump to Jump to Centroptilum.

Callibaetis 6–10 mm | common | Jump to Callibaetis.

Isonychia 10–16 mm | common | Jump to Isonychia.

Siphlonurus 9–17 mm | common | Jump to Siphlonurus.

Ameletus 9–14 mm | uncommon | Jump to Ameletus.

Siphloplecton 14–20 mm | uncommon Jump to Siphloptecon.

Paraleptophlebia 6–10 mm | common | Jump to Paraleptophlebia.

Note: Paraleptophlebia is a crawler, not a swimmer. Clingers

Epeorus 8–12 mm | common | Jump to Epeorus. Maccaffertium, Stenonema, Stenacron

9–16 mm | common | Jump to Jump to Maccaffertium, Stenonema, and Stenacron.

Heptagenia 6–10 mm | fairly common | Jump to Heptagenia.

Rhithrogena 7–12 mm | uncommon | Jump to Rhithrogena.

Cinygmula 7–10 mm | uncommon | Jump to Cinygmula.

Baetisca 7–10 mm | uncommon | Jump to Baetisca.

Crawlers

Ephemerella 5–16 mm | common, widespread, and prolific | Jump to family Ephemerellidae.

Note: A few uncommon species have gill covers (operculate gills) on abdominal segment 4.

Leptophlebia 10–14 mm | fairly common | Jump to Leptophlebia.

Tricorythodes 3–6 mm | common, widespread, and prolific | Jump to Tricorythodes.

Caenis 2–4 mm | uncommon | Jump to Caenis.

Brachycercus 3–6 mm | uncommon | Jump to Brachycercus.

CHAPTER 2

Identifying Duns and Spinners

Two-tailed Duns and Spinners

If your specimen has two tails and plain-colored wings, jump to the Plain-colored Wings page. If your specimen has two tails and marked or mottled wings, jump to the Marked or Mottled Wings page.

Three-tailed Duns and Spinners

If your specimen has three tails, jump to the Three-tailed Duns and Spinners page.

Two-tailed Duns and Spinners with Plain-colored Wings

If your two-tailed mayfly has wings that look like any of those shown above, look for the specific genus in list below.

Epeorus 8–12 mm | common | Jump to Epeorus.

Baetis 4–9 mm | common | Jump to Baetis.

Centroptilum 5–7 mm | uncommon | Jump to Centroptilum.

Acentrella, et al. (Formerly Pseudocloeon) 3–5 mm | common | Jump to Acentrella, et al..

Procloeon (Formerly Cloeon) 3–9 mm | uncommon | Jump to Procloeon.

Isonychia 10–16 mm | common | Jump to Isonychia.

Siphlonurus 9–17 mm | common | Jump to Siphlonurus.

Ephoron 9–14 mm | fairly common | Jump to Ephoron.

Note: Female has three tails; male has two. Therefore, Ephoron is listed in both Two-tail and Three-tail sections.

Ameletus 9–14 mm | uncommon | Jump to Ameletus.

Rhithrogena 7–12 mm | uncommon | Jump to Rhithrogena.

Baetisca 7–10 mm | fairly common | Jump to Baetisca.

Cinygmula 7–10 mm | uncommon | Jump to Cinygmula.

Two-tailed Duns and Spinners with Marked or Mottled Wings

If your two-tailed mayfly has wings that look like any of those shown above, look for the specific genus in list below.

Maccaffertium, Stenonema, Stenacron 9–16 mm | common | Jump to Maccaffertium, Stenonema, Stenacron.

Heptagenia 6–10 mm | fairly common | Jump to Heptagenia.

Callibaetis 6–10 mm | common | Jump to Callibaetis.

Hexagenia 16–35 mm | common | Jump to Hexagenia.

Siphloplecton 14–20 mm | fairly common in West | Jump to Siphloptecon.

Three–tailed Duns and Spinners

Tricorythodes 3–6 mm | common, widespread, and prolific | Jump to Tricorythodes.

Caenis 2–4 mm | uncommon | Jump to Caenis.

Brachycercus 3–6 mm | uncommon | Jump to Brachycercus.

Paraleptophlebia 6–10 mm | common | Jump to Paraleptophlebia.

Ephemerella

5–16 mm | common, widespread, and prolific | Jump to family Ephemerellidae.

Ephemera 12–30 mm | common | Jump to Ephemera.

Anthopotamus (Formerly Potomanthus) 8–16 mm | common | Jump to Leptophlebia.

Leptophlebia 10–14 mm | fairly common | Jump to Ephoron.

Ephoron 9–14 mm | fairly common | Jump to Ephoron.

Note: Ephoron is listed in both two-tail and three-tail sections. The female has three tails and does not molt into a spinner. The male has two tails and molts into a spinner with cloudy wings.

CHAPTER 3

Illustrated Species Charts

About the Genus and Species Charts

Species covered in the following charts are limited to those found in coldwater fisheries within the boundaries of the U.S. and Canada. Mayfly genera and species considered rare or uncommon are not included.

The size range provided for various genera does not necessarily cover all species in the genera. Uncommon or rare species may be larger or smaller. However, the chance of encountering these species is very slim.

This book uses the classification system compiled and maintained as Mayfly Central by Purdue University, itself an update of "The Ephemeroptera species of North American Ephemeroptera and index to their complete nomenclature" by W.P. McCafferty, 1996 in the Transactions of the American Entomological Society, vol. 122, pages 1–54).

The most significant species for fly anglers are highlighted in color (pale yellow) throughout this section of the book. The size of each species is given in millimeters (measured from the head to the tip of the abdomen, and does not include tails). Months of the year with most active hatching activity are also given for each species.

Acentrella et al. (formerly Pseudocloeon)

Family Baetidae (3–5 mm)

Formerly part of the genus Pseudocloeon, these tiny mayflies have been reclassified into four separate genera. For the purpose of this book, we treat the "pseudos" as a group. The important "pseudos" remain in the family Baetidae and are similar in all stages of life to the larger Baetis mayflies. Like Baetis, they are multi-brooded and may produce mutliple generations in a season.

These mayflies are very important trout food. On rich rivers, many millions may emerge in an hour, providing an excellent feeding opportunity. Individual species are similar in size and coloration making it unnecessary for anglers to identify and imitate individual species. Hook size, however, is important.

Nymph: Two tails. Gills single, oval, and plate-like, located on abdominal segments 1–7. Three species of Baetis also have two tails, however, the cross-section of abdomen in Baetis is more rounded.

Dun/Spinner: Two tails. No hind wings.

Ameletus

Family Ameletidae (9–14 mm)

Although reportedly abundant locally in the West, mayflies in in the genus Ameletus are rare and insignificant for anglers in the East and Midwest.

Nymphs are fast, streamlined swimmers and are found in runs and riffles of both small and large streams and rivers.

Nymph: Three fringed tails. Single plate-like gills on abdominal segments 1–7. Each gill has a dark "stiffener" located near dorsal edge. Abdominal segments 1 and 2 are pale.

Dun/Spinner: Dark brownish. Two tails. Hind wings with pointed projection on front edge.

Anthopotamus (formerly Potomanthus)

Family Potomanthidae (8–16 mm)

Common and fairly significant in the East, less so in the Midwest. Only Anthopotamus distinctus is generally important in its range.

Lives in quiet stretches and medium runs as well as the eddies of faster pocket water. Found in gravel and silt along with the Ephemeridae nymphs.There are no adequate keys to determine the nymph species, but enough information is available to identify most of the adults.

Nymph: Three tails. Tusks are in the shape of a pincer, resemble bull horns. No flanged tibia. Femora are flat and wide, resembling those of the fast water clinging nymphs. Double hackle-like gills protrude laterally from abdomen. Gills are located on segments 2–7.

Dun/Spinner: Wings and body pale, or most commonly yellowish. Wings with distinct dark cross-veins, but sometimes pale. Three tails, middle tail shorter than outer tails. Spinner wings are clear with noticeable cross-veins.

Baetis

Family Baetidae (4–10 mm)

This widespread and diverse genus is extremely important to anglers. Many Baetis species are multibrooded and may produce up to three generations per year in favorbable habitats. Emergence in the East and Midwest begins in March and continues until November; some emerge year-round in the West. Nymphs are streamlined agile swimmers. Hatching is concentrated in riffles and at the heads of pools.

With few exceptions all Baetis are similar in size and coloration in nymph, dun, and spinner stages. Anglers should not be concerned with imitating Baetis to the species level.

Nymph: Oval plate-like single gills present on abdominal segments 1–7, or 2–7. Most often three tails with shorter middle tail. More rounded abdomens than Acentrella, which appear more flattened. Generally medium to dark olive.

Dun/Spinner: Two tails. Dwarfed hind wings. Venation of hind wings are important factors in identification: Baetis is double-veined and Centroptilum is single-veined.

Duns have dull grayish brown to dark brown bodies with light to dark gray wings. Female spinners are generally similar to duns in coloration, except darker and more intense. Male spinners in some species have white bodies with some darker segments near tail. Males and female spinners have clear wings.

Baetisca

Family Baetiscidae (7–10 mm)

These mayflies are uncommon but may be important in our coldwater fisheries. Isolated populations may be found in small, medium, and large streams, and along shorelines of lakes throughout the continent. Nymphs mostly found in sand and silt in slow water or in fine gravel of moderate current waters.

Nymph: Three short tails. Unique enlarged thorax forming a shield which covers thorax and abdominal segments 1–6.

Dun/Spinner: Forewing slightly scalloped on rear edge. Hind wing rounded. Stout thorax and thick abdomen which tapers dramatically from abdominal segments 6–10.

Brachycercus

Family Caenidae (3–6 mm)

Brachycercus are generally unimportant in trout streams. Their populations are sparse or sporadic and not considered a significant food source for trout. Individual species are not discernible in the nymph stage. Duns and spinners can be identified with a microscope using complex entomological keys. Found in backwaters of still pools and in moderate current. Nymphs live in sand and silt.

Nymph: Tiny with rounded, overlapping operculate gills (located on segment 2 and covering segments 4–6). Magnification at 8x reveals three prominent knobs (tubercles) on head.

Dun/Spinner: Three tails. Adults have no hind wings. Eastern species are larger than those of Ticorythodes and Caenis. Body color varies from pale or yellowish white to brown. Wings are pale gray. Spinners are medium to dark brown with clear wings.

Caenis

Family Caenidae (2–4 mm)

Caenis mayflies are relatively unimportant to trout streams. Found in backwaters and still pools of rivers, streams and lakes. Can be strained from muck and stillwater weeds. Individual species are not discernable in the nymph stage with known entomological keys. The duns and spinners of some species can only be identified from complex entomological keys using a high-powered microscope.

Nymph: Very tiny with rectangular gill covers (operculate gills) that are visibly separated. Lacks three tubercles on head as in Brachycercus.

Dun/Spinner: Three tails. Adults have no hind wings. Insects are extremely tiny and are pale yellowish white as opposed to the blackish and brownish coloration of Tricorythodes and Brachycercus.

Callibaetis

Family Baetidae (6–10 mm)

Callibaetis can be important in the West, hatching in prolific numbers, but are relatively uncommon and umimportant on rivers and streams in the East and Midwest.

Adults and nymphs are very similar at the species level. Individuals within the same species may vary in color from spring broods to late summer broods. Species with few cross-veins in forewings are easier to identify than those with numerous cross-veins. Found in lakes, impoundments and calm, flat stretches of rich, highly alkaline spring creeks and rivers. Nymphs usually perch on subaquatic plants.

Nymph: Three equal tails. Gills on abdominal segments 1–7 have recurved flaps, giving the appearance of double or even triple gills. Gills are pointed at tips. Generally brown, with light yellow to whitish markings. Legs generally pale.

Dun/Spinner: Forewings of dun are unique, having a dark gray background with contrasting pale venations. Spinner forewings clear with dark blotches. Dwarfed hind wings. Body gray with tinge of brown and freckled. Spinner body color similar to dun, but more intense and with more freckles.

Centroptilum

Family Baetidae (5–7 mm)

Centroptilum are largely unimportant in our trout streams. Their populations are rare and most emergences take place in the heat of summer in warm backwaters. Nymphs live in a variety of habitats from slow backwaters to moderate current. Very tolerant of warm waters.

Individual species in the nymph stage are not discernible with existing entomological keys. Duns and spinners are usually identifiable to the species level by coloration, form of hind wings, and genitalia under magnification.

Nymph: Three equal tails. Single, plate-like gills on abdominal segments 1–7. Gill pairs on segments 1, or 1 and 2 may be recurved flaps. Body more flattened than Baetis; similar to Acentrella et al. Color similar to Baetis.

Dun/Spinner: Two tails. Dwarfed hind wing even narrower than that of Baetis with hooked (costal) projection. Baetis has pointed projection. Marginal veinlets on forewing are single versus the doubled veinlets of Baetis. Creamish body with light gray wings. Male spinner has dark brown thorax with pale whitish abdomen marked with black. Female spinner lacks pale abdomen segments and are uniformly light reddish brown.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Mayfly Guide by Al Caucci. Copyright © 2011 Al Caucci and Scott & Nix, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Scott & Nix, Inc..
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Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Scott & Nix Inc
• Data di pubblicazione: 2011
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0979903793
• ISBN 13: 9780979903793
• Rilegatura: Rilegatura a spirale
• Numero di pagine: 82
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile