Yellow Drake Mayfly vs Common Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Yellow Drake Mayfly | Common Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ephemera lutea | Ephemera danica |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Ephemeridae | Ephemeridae |
| Size | 18-25 mm | 15-25 mm body |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Yellow Drake Mayfly
One of the largest mayflies in eastern North America with a pale greenish body. Nymphs live in burrows in the silty bottoms of clean streams.
Did You Know?
Adults live only a few hours but their emergence creates one of the most anticipated fishing events of the year.
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.