Green Drake Mayfly vs Common Mayfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green Drake Mayfly Common Mayfly
Scientific Name Ephemera guttulata Ephemera danica
Order Ephemeroptera Ephemeroptera
Family Ephemeridae Ephemeridae
Size 18-25 mm 15-25 mm body
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Eastern North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Green Drake Mayfly

A large and strikingly beautiful mayfly with mottled wings that emerges in late spring. Its hatches on eastern North American streams create some of the year's best fly-fishing opportunities.

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Did You Know?

Green drake hatches trigger a feeding frenzy among trout, with even the largest fish rising to the surface.

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.

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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.