Blue-winged Olive Mayfly vs Small Amber Spinner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue-winged Olive Mayfly Small Amber Spinner
Scientific Name Serratella ignita Caenis macrura
Order Ephemeroptera Ephemeroptera
Family Ephemerellidae Caenidae
Size 7-10 mm body 3-5 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Ponds & Lakes
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue-winged Olive Mayfly

A common mayfly of clean rivers and streams with distinctive blue-grey wings. One of the most important mayflies for fly fishing. Nymphs cling to stones in fast water.

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Did You Know?

So important to fly fishers that dozens of artificial fly patterns have been designed to imitate its various life stages.

Small Amber Spinner

A tiny mayfly whose amber-colored spinners fall to the water in dense clouds. Nymphs live among fine sediments in slow-flowing water.

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Did You Know?

Spinner falls can be so dense they coat the water surface like a film, triggering frenzied fish feeding.