Ephemera simulans
Imago on rubber rabbitbrush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Ephemeroptera
Family: Ephemeridae
Genus: Ephemera
Species:
E. simulans
Binomial name
Ephemera simulans
Walker, 1853[1]
Ephemera simulans male

Ephemera simulans is a species of mayfly. It is commonly found throughout the United States. The species is used for fly fishing.

Habitat

The mayfly can be found throughout the United States in the Rockies, Midwest, and in the Great Lakes region.[2] Out of all the mayfly species in the family Ephemeridae, they are the most common in North America.[3] The nymphs of the species burrow and can be found the same time as the Green Drake (Ephemera guttulata) mayflies, which the species acts similar to; if one trout stream has a hatch of E. simulans, there might also be a hatch of E. guttulata.[2] The mayfly hatches annually at Skaneateles Lake, where fly fishermen arrive from Central New York and further to fish at.[4]

Mating

It has been observed that the species have their wings upright after mating, which fish tend to eat while ignoring the mayflies that have outstretched wings.[2] Both hatching and mating occur at night. It hatches from mid-June to mid-July and the nymphs emerge from the sand and silt bottoms of streams where trout are. When the nymphs emerge, they ride on the water until they can fly away to the foliage that is nearby. During this process, the nymphs are easily susceptible to being eaten by trout.[5][6]

Fly fishing

They are used for fly fishing. Artificial nymphs of the species can be used for fishing, including the Wiggle Nymph, Marabou Nymph, and Feather Duster nymph.[7] When using an artificial fly of its adult stage, the silhouette and presentation are more important than it being the same color.[6] It is referred to as Brown Drake, but so is the species Hexagenia atrocaudata.[2] Trout, bass, perch, rock bass, Atlantic Salmon, and bullheads feed on the mayflies.[4] They are considered "nationally important on many of the country's best trout streams".[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Ephemera simulans Walker, 1853". ITIS. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Weamer, Paul (May 14, 2018). "Matching The Drake Hatch". Fly Fisherman. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  3. ↑ Edmunds, George F. Jr.; Jensen, Steven L.; Berner, Lewis (18 November 1976). The Mayflies of North and Central America. U of Minnesota Press. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-8166-5756-8.
  4. 1 2 Figura, David (June 28, 2013). "Fishing the brown drake hatch on Skaneateles Lake is challenging, but fun". Syracuse.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  5. ↑ Pobst, Dick (1990). Trout Stream Insects. The Lyons Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781558210677.
  6. 1 2 "Brown Drake Mayfly Hatch". WiFlyFisher. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ Kirk, Don (1 August 2014). Hatches & Fly Patterns of the Great Smoky Mountains. Stackpole Books. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-8117-6036-2.

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