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

> > Mayfly Nymph Help?



SwimmingNovember 2nd, 2012, 2:02 pm
Posts: 2Hi,

So I'm doing an assignment on Swimming Mayfly Nymphs and I was wondering if anyone had any expert knowledge on an issue I'm having.

Recently I went to Wales and was catching Swimming Mayfly Nymphs but I have no idea what ones they were (Ameletidae, Baetidae, Isonychiidae or Siphlonuridae) and I don't have any pictures.

I was wondering if anyone knew what type of nymphs are likely to be found in Wales/UK?

If I can remember, they were about 10mm long and brown (I think).

Thanks.
EntomanNovember 2nd, 2012, 3:01 pm
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Welcome to the forum, Swimming.

The bad news is that it is difficult to answer your question with reliable specificity based on the information you provided. The good news is that the number of species possible is relatively limited (unlike in NA). Sounds like you are describing Siphlonuridae nymphs, though there are a few species of UK baetid that can grow close to this size. I believe there are currently three species of Siphlonuridae recognized in Great Britain. Siphlonurus lacustris is relatively common in British lakes, ponds, and slow moving sections of some moving water. It is described as generally brownish in coloration. If the specimens you captured came from water as described above, that may be your critter. There is only a single species of ameletid and it would appear rather speckled in your hand. There are no species of Isonychiidae in the British Isles.

Another possibility is that you may have been looking at a species of leptophlebiid, which look very similar in some respects and can be found in similar habitat.
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman
SwimmingNovember 2nd, 2012, 4:38 pm
Posts: 2I wish I'd got a picture now, would have made things a lot easier. The Siphlonurus lacustris does, however, look very, very much like the Swimming Mayfly nymph I was dealing with.

And I think I can rule out leptophlebiid since their gap between the tails are definetly too wide.

Thanks a lot for the help, much appreciated!

Edit: Would you happen to know, roughly, how many types of species of Leptophlebiid there are in the UK?
EntomanNovember 2nd, 2012, 6:32 pm
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Would you happen to know, roughly, how many types of species of Leptophlebiid there are in the UK?


I believe there are 6 in 3 different genera.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by tail gap, but tail length is a good way to tell them apart:

a. Approx. body length or longer (usually at least 3/4) - Leptophlebiidae.
b. Much shorter than body length (usually less than 1/2) - Siphlonuridae.

Gills are also a good way. Both families have prominent ones but the former's are shaped like tuning forks and the latter's like tree leaves.
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman

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
Re: Callibaetis sp.
(2 more)

In the Identify This! Board by Millcreek
6Apr 30, 2015
by PaulRoberts
Re: Siphlonurus sp.
In Ameletus Mayfly Nymph by Millcreek
1Feb 2, 2020
by Troutnut
Re: itzy-bitzies!
In the Identify This! Board by Wiflyfisher
6Aug 9, 2007
by Martinlf
Re: Sulphurs
In Fishing Reports by Wbranch
1Jun 27, 2010
by Oldredbarn
Re: Assorted Nymphs From The Russian River
(1 more)

In the Identify This! Board by Millcreek
6Jun 4, 2016
by Creno
More Baetis nymphs
(2 more)

In the Identify This! Board by Millcreek
0
Re: New Mexico ???
In Beginner Help by Hankaye
3Apr 19, 2013
by Sayfu
Re: small, green-eye mayfly
In the Identify This! Board by Wiflyfisher
7Aug 12, 2007
by Wiflyfisher
Re: elk body hair vs. deer body hair
In Fly Tying by Mcjames
1Apr 18, 2013
by Entoman
Re: Near French Creek, PA
In the Identify This! Board by Lyrae
5May 13, 2007
by GONZO