Yellow Drake Mayfly vs Violet Copper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Yellow Drake Mayfly Violet Copper
Scientific Name Ephemera lutea Lycaena helle
Order Ephemeroptera Lepidoptera
Family Ephemeridae Lycaenidae
Size 18-25 mm 24-30 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions North America Northern and central Europe, Siberia
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

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.

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Did You Know?

Adults live only a few hours but their emergence creates one of the most anticipated fishing events of the year.

Violet Copper

A tiny butterfly whose males display a vivid violet-purple sheen over coppery-orange wings. It is one of Europe's rarest and most localised coppers.

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Did You Know?

It is so rare in western Europe that individual colonies receive specific conservation management plans.