Common Mayfly vs Trico Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Mayfly | Trico Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ephemera danica | Tricorythodes stygiatus |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Ephemeridae | Leptohyphidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm body | 3-6 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Mayfly
Adults have no functional mouths and live only 1-3 days. Massive synchronized emergences called "hatches" are among natures great spectacles. Excellent water quality indicators.
Did You Know?
Mayflies have the shortest adult lifespan of any insect — some species live just 5 minutes as adults, long enough only to mate. They are the only insects with a winged sub-adult stage.
Trico Mayfly
A tiny mayfly that forms enormous morning spinner falls over calm streams and rivers. Males have distinctive white bodies with black thoraxes.
Did You Know?
Trico spinner falls create such dense blankets of spent mayflies on the water surface that trout gorge themselves to satiation.