Purple Dun vs Blue Quill
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Purple Dun | Blue Quill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Paraleptophlebia adoptiva | Paraleptophlebia guttata |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Leptophlebiidae | Leptophlebiidae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Herbivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Purple Dun
A small dark mayfly with purplish-gray wings found in eastern streams. Nymphs crawl among submerged leaf packs in moderate current.
Did You Know?
Females drop their egg masses onto the water surface from a height of several feet while in flight.
Blue Quill
A delicate spring-emerging mayfly with bluish-gray body coloring. Nymphs prefer riffles with abundant leaf detritus in clean streams.
Did You Know?
Anglers consider it one of the most important early-season hatches on trout streams.