Blue-winged Olive Mayfly vs Brushleg Mayfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue-winged Olive Mayfly Brushleg Mayfly
Scientific Name Serratella ignita Isonychia bicolor
Order Ephemeroptera Ephemeroptera
Family Ephemerellidae Isonychiidae
Size 7-10 mm body 12-18 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue-winged Olive Mayfly

A common mayfly of clean rivers and streams with distinctive blue-grey wings. One of the most important mayflies for fly fishing. Nymphs cling to stones in fast water.

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Did You Know?

So important to fly fishers that dozens of artificial fly patterns have been designed to imitate its various life stages.

Brushleg Mayfly

A large, fast-swimming mayfly with forelegs fringed with bristles for filter feeding. Nymphs inhabit swift riffles of large streams and rivers.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most mayflies, nymphs crawl out of water onto rocks to emerge as adults rather than hatching at the surface.