Moved from Mayflies.

Hi gabbyd-

Mayflies are generally categorized (by nymphal behavior) into four separate groups: Swimmers, Crawlers, Clingers, and Burrowers.
Please see Mayfly.

Swimmer mayflies known from Convict Creek are of family Baetidae.
Crawler mayflies known from Convict Creek are of families Ephemerellidae and Leptophlebiidae.
Clinger mayflies known from Convict Creek are of family Heptageniidae.
There are no burrower mayflies known from Convict Creek.

Regarding the "key markers" of the winged lifestages of the (above) listed mayfly families, the most easily observed are number of tails, and size and shape of hind wings.

The Baetids have 2 tails, and either minute hind wings, or are absent hind wings. Ephemerellids have 3 tails, and small hind wings, perhaps 1/4 the length of their fore wings. Leptophlebids have 3 tails, and small hind wings, perhaps 1/4 the length of their fore wings with rounded costal angulation. Heptageniids have 2 tails, and medium sized hind wings, perhaps 1/3 the length of their fore wings.

So, with regard to this submission, its 3 tails rules out families Baetidae and Heptageniidae, leaving only families Ephemerellidae and Leptophlebiidae. And the shape of its hind wings, being of sharp (rather than rounded) angulation identifies it as being of family Ephemerellidae.

I believe this female (based on the small eyes and the absence of male genitalia) subimago (based on what appears to me to be non-wettable hairs on the trailing edge of the right forewing) to be Ephemerella dorothea infrequens.

Moved from ID Request.

Moved from ID Request.