Blue-Winged Olive vs Dark Blue Quill
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue-Winged Olive | Dark Blue Quill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Baetis tricaudatus | Paraleptophlebia mollis |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Baetidae | Leptophlebiidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue-Winged Olive
A small olive-colored mayfly with distinctive bluish-gray wings, abundant in clean streams across North America. It produces multiple generations per year.
Did You Know?
Blue-winged olives are among the few mayflies that hatch in winter, providing vital food for trout during cold months.
Dark Blue Quill
A small dusky-winged mayfly of Appalachian headwater streams. Nymphs are slow crawlers among leaf debris in gentle currents.
Did You Know?
It is one of the earliest mayflies to emerge each spring, sometimes hatching when snow still lines the streambanks.