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Field Identification Guide for Ephemeroptera adults

This I.D. Guide is only meant as a rough field guide and for better identification of the species, there are several more indepth keys available.

Detail
Link
Occurs in local area
isolated populations
NOT found in local area
Recorded on Birkin waters
2
2: Large fly, forewing 15-25mm
2: Medium to large forewing 8.5-18mm
2: Small to medium forewing 7-11mm
Dark marks on forewings
Large hindwings
Yellow in colour
Large hindwings
Potamanthidae
regular short veins between each long vein
Large hindwings
2: Small to medium forewing size 6-13mm
no short veins on forewing
Large hindwings
Potamanthus Luteus
2: Very small fly forewing 3-9mm
no hindwings present
Caenidae

9 species: To difficult to tell species apart in field

3
3: Medium to large forewing size 8-16mm
4 free segments in the foot
Large hindwings
3: Medium to large forewing size 8-17mm
3 free segments in the foot
small or no hindwings
3: Small to medium forewing size 5-12mm
5 free segments in the foot
Large hindwings
Heptageniidae
Heptageniidae
H2

H2: Femur with dark mark in otherwise pale femur, body segments plain

no other decerning differences

R. germanica generally larger than R semicolorata

R. semicolorata
H3

H3: dark lines and dots on yellowish background of each segment underside

Ecdynurus insignis
H4

H4: Sub-imagino forewings greyish yellow, plain unmarked forwings

Ecdynurus dispar

H4: Forewing mottled, some black cross veins

E. torrentis

H4: Black borders to all cross veins

E. venosus
H5
H6

H6:1st segment of foot is same as 2nd

Kageronia fuscogrisea
H7

H7: upto 3 black dots above middle leg, none above hind

Heptagenia sulphurea

H7: flesh coloured rings on femor of front leg + black dot above hind leg

H. longicauda
H8

H8:Body creamy brown colour, chestnut marks on upper surface. Yellowish legs with brown stripe from body onto femur.

Electrogena affinis

H8:Legs and body are uniformly dark brown

E. lateralis
Baetis
Baetidae
B2
B2: 1st segment of foot is 3x length of 2nd
Procloeon bifidum
B3
B4: 3-5 cross veins at tip of forewing
B4: 9-11 cross veins at tip of forewing
B4
Cloeon dipterum
C. simile
B5
B5: Hindwing with pointed tip
Centroptilum luteolum
B5: Hindwing with rounded tip
Procloeon pennulatum
B6
B6: Hindwing with smooth top edge
B. atrebatinus
B7

B7: Only 2 veins on hindwing 2nd of which is forked

Beatis digitatus

B7: 3rd vien running along lower edge of wing

Beatis muticus
B. niger
almost inseperable from each other
B8

B8: 2 small open circles on upper side of body segment

Beatis rhodani

B8: Orange eyes (male only) females no difference

Baetis scambus

B8: Yellow eyes (male only) females no difference

B. fuscatus

B8:

Sub-imagines are almost inseperable

Imagines can be seperated by small differences in genitalia

B. buceratus
B. vernus
Siphlonuridae
Siphlonuridae
2 different shaped claws on foot
Ameletus inopinatus
S2
S2: Dark band at tip of femur
Siphlonurus alternatus

S2: Femur unbanded

last body segment without pointed spines

S. lacustris

S2: Femur unbanded

​last body segment flatterned to form pointed spines

S. armatus
Ephemeridae
Ephemeridae

Large flies with 3 tails

Large hindwings. Forewing size 15-25mm

Large triangular markings on each body segment
Ephemera vulgata
Six longitudinal stripes on each body segment
E. lineata
Markings NOT distinct triangle or longitudinal stripes
E. danica
N.B. markings are faint to absent on body segments 1-6
Leptophlebiidae
Leptophlebiidae
Habrophlebia fusca
L2
L3
Paraleptophlebia submarginata

L3: forewing length is less than 10mm

Overall colour of sub-imago wing is dark grey, imago wings clear

L3: forewing length is less than 10mm

​Overall colour of sub-imago wing is pale grey, imago wings smoky brown

P. cincta
P. werneri

L3: forewing length greater than 10mm

Overall colour of sub-imago wing is mottled brown

L4

L4: Hind tibia slightly longer than hind femur

Leptophlebia marginata

L4: Hind tibia slightly shorter than hind femur

L. vespertina
Ephemerellidae
Ephemerellidae

Use body markings to

separate species

Faint pattern of lines and dots on underside of body

​Imago overall reddish in colour

Serratella ignita
Ephemerella notata
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