Drake Mackerel Mayfly vs Small Amber Spinner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Drake Mackerel Mayfly Small Amber Spinner
Scientific Name Ephemera glaucops Caenis macrura
Order Ephemeroptera Ephemeroptera
Family Ephemeridae Caenidae
Size 15-20 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Ponds & Lakes
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Drake Mackerel Mayfly

A large European burrowing mayfly with distinctive dark markings on its wings. It emerges in synchronous swarms during warm summer evenings.

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Did You Know?

Swarms of this mayfly dancing over European rivers at sunset have inspired poets and naturalists for centuries.

Small Amber Spinner

A tiny mayfly whose amber-colored spinners fall to the water in dense clouds. Nymphs live among fine sediments in slow-flowing water.

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Did You Know?

Spinner falls can be so dense they coat the water surface like a film, triggering frenzied fish feeding.