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Mayfly Species Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill)

Taxonomic Navigation -?-
» Species heteronea (Blue Quill)
Common Name
MatchCommon Name
****Blue Quill
Pictures Below ↓
This species is the primary spring emerging Paraleptophlebia throughout the western region. Outside of California and parts of Oregon, if you run into a little blue winged brown bodied fly with three tails in the spring, it's probably this.  

Where & When


Region: West

Time Of Year (?): Spring or early summer

Preferred Waters: Rivers of all speeds and sizes

I collected one specimen on the Madison River, Montana on July 1st.

Hatching Behavior


Time Of Day (?): Afternoon



Pictures of 5 Mayfly Specimens in the Species Neoleptophlebia heteronea:

Specimen Page:12
Male Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill) Mayfly SpinnerMale Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill) Mayfly Spinner View 12 PicturesI keyed this one out to species on the microscope because it was too small for the genitalia to show the distinguishing characteristics in the images here.
Collected July 1, 2019 from the Madison River in Montana
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 18, 2019
Male Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill) Mayfly AdultMale Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill) Mayfly Adult View 1 Pictures
Collected May 16, 2012 from the Touchet River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Bnewell on May 18, 2012
Male Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill) Mayfly SpinnerMale Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill) Mayfly Spinner View 1 Pictures
Collected June 5, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Bnewell on June 26, 2011
Specimen Page:12

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