» Family Heptageniidae (March Browns, Cahills, Quill Gordons)
4 genera (Anepeorus, Macdunnoa, Raptoheptagenia, Spinadis)
aren't included.
Common Name
This is page 3 of specimens of Heptageniidae. Visit the main Heptageniidae page for:
- The behavior and habitat of Heptageniidae.
- 11 underwater pictures of Heptageniidae.
Pictures of 215 Mayfly Specimens in the Family Heptageniidae:
Male Rhithrogena virilis Mayfly Spinner
View 12 PicturesI'm fairly sure this is a specimen of Rhithrogena virilis based on closeup examination of the reproductive anatomy under the microscope (not shown in photos). The other other species of Rhithrogena this large is Rhithrogena flavianula, but the key in Needham's Biology of Mayflies mentions annulation in the abdomen (visible in some images on bugguide.net) more distinct than that on this specimen.
The body and front wing were both about 15.5 mm long, while the cerci (Cercus: The left and right "tails" of an insect are known as the cerci or caudal cerci. The middle tail of a three-tailed insect is not.) were 40 mm long.