order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Polymitarcyidae
genus
Ephoron
“Pale Burrower Mayflies”
Genus Overview
2 species in North America (Ephoron leukon and Ephoron album). The differences in the two species is the lateral tracheal branches in the gills. This burrowing mayfly is smaller than the other families of burrowers.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: 1.5 and higher
Upper Midwest: 2 and higher
FEEDING HABITS
Collector / Filterer
Collector / Gatherer
Collector / Gatherer
MOVEMENT
Burrower
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Abdominal Gills
Single Tarsal Claw
Usually 3 Tails
Family
Gills on 2-7 Forked, Long, Curving over Abdomen
Legs Flattened or Tuberculate
Long Tusks Straight or Downcurved
Hind Tibiae Rounded Apically
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Wings developing in wing pads. Mouthparts suitable for chewing. Gills present on tops and sides of abdomen. Segmented legs present. One tarsal claw per leg. Usually with 3 tails (sometimes 2).
Family:
Long slender mayfly with its gills long, forked, marginally fringed, and curved over abdomen; pair of sharp tusks projecting beyond head and curved downward; the legs are generally expanded or with tubercles for digging and the hind tibiae are rounded apically.
Genus:
Tusks with numerous tubercles, feathery gills, soft bodied,
Dorsal
Lateral