Blue-Winged Olive vs Pond Olive Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue-Winged Olive | Pond Olive Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Baetis tricaudatus | Cloeon dipterum |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Baetidae | Baetidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Gardens |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Europe, Asia |
| 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.
Pond Olive Mayfly
One of the few mayflies that breeds in still water including garden ponds and rain barrels. Unusually for a mayfly, females are ovoviviparous.
Did You Know?
This is one of the only mayflies that gives birth to live nymphs rather than laying eggs, a unique trait in the order.