Little Yellow Quills

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Scientific Name

Match	Scientific Name
	Leucrocuta hebe

This common name refers to only one species.

Mayfly Species Leucrocuta hebe

These are often called Little Yellow Quills.

This widespread species produces more fishable hatches in the East and Midwest than any other species in the Heptagenia genus complex.

Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph

View 4 PicturesThis is a very early instar (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.).

Collected January 13, 2004 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on January 25, 2006

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun

View 9 PicturesI found this dun on the same piece of stream as a similar spinner, probably of the same species.

Collected September 19, 2006 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on October 4, 2006

Female Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner

View 8 Pictures

Collected September 4, 2006 from in
Added to Troutnut.com by on October 3, 2006

See 8 more specimens...

Jargon Defined:

Dun: Mayflies have two adult stages. They first emerge from the water as duns (scientifically known as the subimago stage). They then molt into the spinner (imago) stage, in which they mate and die. Sometimes the word "dun" is confusingly used to refer to a brownish gray color in fly tying materials.

Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.

Spinner: There are two winged stages of adult mayflies. They emerge from the water as duns, molt on land (usually) into their fully mature stage, spinners. As spinners, they mate, lay eggs, and die.