Mayfly ID

[dudley]

We were camped at Cape Cod last week to do some saltwater fishing.
Our campsite was located on one of the kettle ponds in Nickerson State Park.
One morning I awoke to a large bug flying around my head.
Turns out it was a mayfly, but one I didn't recognize
This bug looked to be a spinner but the tails (2)weren't terribly long.
It was a pale yellow color all over and was...about a size 4
I don't fish the still water too much, but I think I'd remember if I ever saw a bug like this

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May the fish that you catch always be larger than the hole in your net

[mantis]

Probably a Hex... only thing I know that is that big..

[Thwack]

Did it look pretty much like this one?



If so, it's a Hexagenia...

[Canoeman1947]

Thwack:
That picture reminds me of a camping trip a couple of years ago on the Lower Mountain Fork River in Oklahoma. I had noticed the guy in the next camp had a bunch of citronella candles burning, and I couldn't imagine why. Later when I went to visit, he got up to light his candles again, and said he was trying to keep the mosquitos away. When I asked him which mosquitoes, he pointed to one of the Hexagenias that had just landed on his chair arm. I had to inform him that his "mosquito" was actually a large mayfly, and that if there were any mosquitoes that large around, we would already be lifeless husks. I don't think the man had spent much time around streams.

Larry Compton

[dudley]

This mayfly was a pale yellow all over.
No dark shading at all
That may be because it was a spinner
I don't know

[Thwack]

Canoeman1947,

I lived in southern Louisiana for 13 years...spent a summer in college working in one of the big swamps. I never saw a mosquito that matched the size of a hexagenia (thankfully!!!).

I kind of feel sorry for that fella if he though mosquitos got that big...a swarm of those could drain you dry pretty quick (or carry you away for later harvesting).

[Taxon]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana">quote:</font><HR>This mayfly was a pale yellow all over.
No dark shading at all
That may be because it was a spinner
I don't know<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dudley-

How about [url=http://bugguide.net/node/view/51359/bgimage:f95b5]this Hex[/url:f95b5].

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Taxon
[url=http://FlyfishingEntomology.com:f95b5]FlyfishingEntomology.com[/url:f95b5]