Brown Drake Mayfly vs South African Prong-Gill Mayfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brown Drake Mayfly South African Prong-Gill Mayfly
Scientific Name Ephemera simulans Adenophlebia auriculata
Order Ephemeroptera Ephemeroptera
Family Ephemeridae Leptophlebiidae
Size 14-20 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Mountains
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions North America Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Brown Drake Mayfly

A large brownish mayfly with mottled wings that produces dramatic evening hatches on trout streams. Nymphs burrow in sandy and silty streambeds.

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Did You Know?

Brown drake hatches occur over just a few days each year, creating some of the most spectacular dry-fly fishing of the season.

South African Prong-Gill Mayfly

A mayfly endemic to southern African mountain streams. Nymphs have distinctive forked gills used for respiration in oxygen-rich rapids.

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Did You Know?

Its uniquely forked gills are found only in African leptophlebiid mayflies.