Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > Alabama Mayfly



TaxonApril 19th, 2007, 12:17 am
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350
Okay, does anyone recognize this mayfly. I am guessing that it's a female subimago of genus Isonychia, but it sure has striking coloration.

Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
TroutnutApril 19th, 2007, 8:13 am
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2737
I think you're right. I couldn't say what species it is, but I don't see any reason not to presume I. bicolor.

I'm also not 100% positive it's a female, since the rear end is pretty blurry. Males in Isonychia have unusually small eyes.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
QuillgordonApril 19th, 2007, 10:46 am
Schuylkill County, PA.

Posts: 109
Taxon,
Aren't the legs a big key here.
Front legs ..... brown
Mid/rear legs ....... cream (white)

* Charles Wetzel called the female spinner the 'White-gloved Howdy'.

Q.g.
Flyfishing is a state of mind! .............. Q.g.

C/R........barbless
GONZOApril 19th, 2007, 11:20 am
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
Roger-
This certainly looks like Isonychia to me. There are several Iso species with a southern distribution, so I won't hazard a guess about species.

John-
The leg colors you mention are pretty typical of Isonychia. Wetzel's "white-gloved howdy" name referred to the white-tipped front legs of the bicolor female, held out as if awaiting a greeting handshake. (I love that name!)
QuillgordonApril 19th, 2007, 11:55 am
Schuylkill County, PA.

Posts: 109
John-
The leg colors you mention are pretty typical of Isonychia. Wetzel's "white-gloved howdy" name referred to the white-tipped front legs of the bicolor female, held out as if awaiting a greeting handshake. (I love that name!)


* female spinner only....... @ 'Matching the Hatch', E. Schwiebert Jr. (pg.71).

Right....... These guys from PA. were pretty smart, weren't they. ..... LOL........
Flyfishing is a state of mind! .............. Q.g.

C/R........barbless
TaxonApril 19th, 2007, 2:54 pm
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350
Gonzo-

Roger-
This certainly looks like Isonychia to me. There are several Iso species with a southern distribution, so I won't hazard a guess about species.


Right. There are actually (6) Isonychia species known to be in Alabama, and of those, only I. bicolor is described in flyfishing entomology literature.


Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
TaxonApril 19th, 2007, 3:11 pm
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350
Jason-

I'm also not 100% positive it's a female, since the rear end is pretty blurry. Males in Isonychia have unusually small eyes.


Right. Aren't blurry rear ends just the pits! However, I believe the brownish blur is actually some basal cerci segments rather than claspers. Neither the fore legs nor eyes offered much help either. Actually, the character that caused me lean toward female, was the wing venation, which I believe to be more heavily stained in female than male Isonychia.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Anyone care to guess at this one?
In Female Eurylophella Mayfly Spinner by Troutnut
0
Re: Male spinner. Isonychia ?
In the Photography Board by Wystone
3Aug 12, 2007
by JAD
Re: Isonychia Questions
In General Discussion by DayTripper
2Jun 30, 2009
by DayTripper
Re: Peculiar Heptageniid
In Female Epeorus vitreus Mayfly Spinner by Troutnut
2Oct 5, 2006
by GONZO
Probably another E. vitreus
In Male Epeorus vitreus Mayfly Spinner by GONZO
0
Some neat new bugs today
In General Discussion by Troutnut
0
Re: Dark reddish-brown spinner
In the Identify This! Board by Wiflyfisher
13Jul 25, 2014
by Millcreek
Re: help with midge adult
In the Identify This! Board by Cherylkorca
2Feb 18, 2020
by Cherylkorca
Re: A little somethin somethin
In the Identify This! Board by DayTripper
4Jun 10, 2013
by Oldredbarn
Re: basic bug identification on stream
In the Identify This! Board by Adirman
1Aug 30, 2010
by GONZO