UPCOMING EVENTS
View full calendarKey to Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Utah - Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera Order
(Family Name is Shown in Bolded Letters.)
Ameletidae (primitive minnow mayflies)
Description: Antennae shorter than 2x width of head, striped tail, postlateral corners (spines) on abdomen. Length 6-20 mm.
Habitat: Rapid moving fresh water, slower water habitats.
Ametropodidae (sand minnow mayflies)
Description: Long claws on middle and hind legs, hairs on claws, distinctive lateral fringed gills, 3 fringed tails. Length 14-8 mm.
Habitat: Rapid moving fresh water, larger rivers.
Baetidae (small minnow flies)
Description: Small, stream-lined fusiform shape, typically with long antennae - more than 2x width ofhead, often with a short middle caudal filament. Length 3-12 mm.
Habitat: All habitats.
Caenidae
Description: Quadrate shape, robust thorax, only fore wingpads. Length less than 8 mm.
Habitat: Rapid moving fresh water.
Ephemerellidae (spiny mayflies)
Description: Gills absent on abdominal segment 2, may be absent on segments 1 and 3, spiny. Length 5-15 mm.
Habitat: Mostly rapid moving fresh water.
Ephemeridae (burrowning mayflies)
Description: Large bodied, long mandibular tusks curve upward and outward without spines on distal end, gills forked. Length 15-35mm.
Habitat: Rapid moving fresh water - large.
Heptageniidae (flathead mayflies)
Description: Dorsally flattened body, rectangular head, broad shoulders, large alien eyes. Length 5-20mm.
Habitat: Rapid moving fresh water, generally higher water velocity areas.
Isonychiidae (brushlegged mayflies)
Description: 2 rows of conspicuous, long hairs present along inner surface of fore legs. Length 8-17.
Habitat: Rapid moving fresh water.
Leptohyphidae (stout crawlers)
Description: 1st pair of gills operculate - triangular shape that do not meet in center, robust thorax. Length 3-10mm.
Habitat: 1st pair of gills operculate - triangular shape that do not meet in center, robust thorax. Length 3-10mm.
Leptophlebiidae (prong-gilled mayflies)
Description: Body dorsoventrally flattened, gills can be forked, fringed, elongate, or double. Length 4-15 mm.
Habitat: Generally rapid moving fresh water, some slow moving fresh water.
Oligoneuriidae
Description: Front legs with long setae on inner margins. Length 8-17mm.
Habitat: Larger rapid moving fresh water, depositional.
Polymitarcyidae (white mayflies)
Description: Large bodied, long mandibular tusks covered with spines or tubercles that curve inward and downward, gills forked and held dorsally. Length 12-35mm.
Habitat: Larger warmer rapid moving fresh water, depositional.