» Genus Acentrella (Tiny Blue-Winged Olives)
6 species (Acentrella alachua, Acentrella barbarae, Acentrella feropagus, Acentrella lapponica, Acentrella nadineae, Acentrella parvula)
aren't included.
Common Names
The only Acentrella species commonly reported to be important to anglers is Acentrella turbida, though Acentrella insignificans is important in some western locales. See the species pages for distribution and timing details. This genus is one of two (including Heterocloeon) that can easily be distinguished from other Baetidae genera by the presence of a conical mesonotal projection (Conical mesonotal projection: small cone shaped spike sticking up from the top and front part of the middle thorax segment.). A. turbida lacks hindwings which is useful for distinguishing this species from all others in either genera. A. turbida was previously known by the names of its synonyms (Synonym: A former name of a taxon, usually a species. Entomologists frequently discover that two insects originally described as different species are one in the same, and they drop one of the names. The dropped name is said to be a synonym of the remaining name. These changes take a while to trickle into the common knowledge of anglers; for example, Baetis vagans is now a synonym of Baetis tricaudatus.) Pseudocloeon turbidum in the West and Pseudocloeon carolina in the East.Hatching BehaviorTime Of Day (?): Early evening; sometimes all day
The nymphs are normally excellent swimmers, but they become much less mobile as they're emerging and dead-drift (Dead-drift: The manner in which a fly drifts on the water when not moving by itself or by the influence of a line. Trout often prefer dead-drifting prey and imitating the dead-drift in tricky currents is a major challenge of fly fishing.) helplessly to the suface. Considering that they then emerge and fly away quickly, this makes the nymphs the prime stage to match during this emergence.Spinner BehaviorTime Of Day: Dusk
These species molt into spinners and mate the same day they emerge. The spinner activity usually comes at dusk, or even after dark.Nymph BiologyCurrent Speed: Slow to Medium
Substrate: Rocks, logs, gravel, vegetation
Environmental Tolerance: Widely tolerant, but best in cold rivers
Pictures of 7 Mayfly Specimens in the Genus Acentrella:
Male Acentrella turbida (Tiny Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Spinner
View 3 PicturesI would not like to have to match this hatch. These are the smallest mayflies I have ever seen. I used to think Caenis was the smallest adult mayfly in the west but these guys are about 4mm long. The male eyes are two toned, brown above and olive below. The abdomen is dark brown interspersed with light brown. The abdomen is clear for the anterior (Anterior: Toward the front of an organism's body. The phrase "anterior to" means "in front of.") 2/3rd and the remainder is white. The tails are twice as long as the insect. There is only one pair of wings. Recent Discussions of Acentrella
acentrella nymph 22 Replies »Posted by
Goose on Nov 3, 2006
Hi Jason! Do you have a picture of the (acentrella-miniature BWO nymph) on the site? I've been fishing them and wanted a better idea of how they look.
Thanks,
Bruce
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