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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) » Furcatergalia » Scapphodonta » Ephemeroidea » Common Burrower Mayflies (Ephemeridae) » Hexagenia
Photo#743565
Mayfly - Hexagenia - male
Copyright © 2013 Tom Bentley

Mayfly - Hexagenia - Male
Scuppernong Prairie State Natural Area, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, USA
June 30, 2012
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Contributed by Tom Bentley on 8 February, 2013 - 6:44pm
Last updated 8 February, 2013 - 8:25pm

Moved
Moved from Mayflies.
… Roger Rohrbeck, 8 February, 2013 - 7:29pm login or register to post comments

Hexagenia
Very nice photo, Tom. It's a male imago of genus Hexagenia.
… Roger Rohrbeck, 8 February, 2013 - 7:26pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks...was hoping for full
Thanks...was hoping for full species ID since it was so striking.
… Tom Bentley, 8 February, 2013 - 8:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Species ID
Sorry about that, Tom. The more experience I have acquired identifying mayflies for BugGuide, the more I have become convinced that it is best not to attempt mayfly species level identification without having the physical specimen under a microscope. In my opinion, to attempt doing if from a photo is speculative at best, and likely a disservice to all.

Short of DNA Barcoding, the most reliable method of Hexagenia species level differentiation has traditionally involved microscopic examination of the penes of a male imago (like the one you photographed). So, if you would like, I can email you a penes illustration for the (4) Hexagenia species you have in WI, which are H. atrocaudata, H. bilineata, H. limbata, and H. rigida. Please advise.
… Roger Rohrbeck, 8 February, 2013 - 11:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Well it was only photographed
Well it was only photographed....not collected. Thanks for your detailed explanation. Some time you just hope that since an individual is so striking it owuld be easy to ID, but that is not often the case with cryptic species.
… Tom Bentley, 9 February, 2013 - 8:24am login or register to post comments

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