Small Amber Spinner vs Pond Olive Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Amber Spinner | Pond Olive Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caenis macrura | Cloeon dipterum |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Caenidae | Baetidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Gardens |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
Spinner falls can be so dense they coat the water surface like a film, triggering frenzied fish feeding.
Pond Olive Mayfly
One of the few mayflies that breeds in still water including garden ponds and rain barrels. Unusually for a mayfly, females are ovoviviparous.
Did You Know?
This is one of the only mayflies that gives birth to live nymphs rather than laying eggs, a unique trait in the order.