Blue Quill vs Small Square-Gilled Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Quill | Small Square-Gilled Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Paraleptophlebia guttata | Caenis luctuosa |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Leptophlebiidae | Caenidae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 3-6 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Detritivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Quill
A delicate spring-emerging mayfly with bluish-gray body coloring. Nymphs prefer riffles with abundant leaf detritus in clean streams.
Did You Know?
Anglers consider it one of the most important early-season hatches on trout streams.
Small Square-Gilled Mayfly
A minute mayfly with distinctive square-shaped gills on its nymphs. Adults swarm in enormous numbers near water at twilight.
Did You Know?
The enlarged second gill plate acts as a protective cover over the remaining delicate gills.