Section 2: Lakefly Invertebrate Identification
Estimated Time For Lesson: 3 minutes
ID Notes
There are four different groups of mayflies counted in Lakefly. The first is the ‘Angler’s curse’ mayfly.
Angler’s Curse can be very small.
They are robust in appearance and can be difficult to spot in a sample.
They have 3 pairs of visible legs and 3 long, slender tails
Tails, when intact, are roughly symmetrical
They have gills hidden under rounded gill covers
Tails can be broken off partially or entirely, so check carefully how many there are.
They are mostly found in mud and silt in still or slow flowing water, occasionally in running water.
Photos Credit: Dr Cyril Bennett MBE
