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
                        
                     Ephemerellidae
               
            Ephemerella
            
                  “Spiny Crawler Mayflies”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        There are 17 species of this common and widespread genus known in North America; in the East, adults of some of these are called Hendricksons or Sulphurs by fly fishers. Larvae inhabit all types of streams, where they cling to the substrate while collecting small particles of organic matter or scraping diatoms and algae and other biofilm from rocks and other surfaces. This genus is the more commonly collected of the family.  None have been associated with ponds or lakes. 
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: 0 - 4
                                 Upper Midwest: 1 and higher
                                 Midwest: 2.9 and higher
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Collector / Gatherer
Scraper / Grazer
                        
                     Scraper / Grazer
MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Clinger
Swimmer
                        
                     Swimmer
DISTRIBUTION
                        
                                 Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
                        
                     HABITAT
                        
                                 Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
                        
                     Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
               order
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Abdominal Gills
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Single Tarsal Claw
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Usually 3 Tails
                                 family
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Segment 2 Without Gills
                                 genus
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Caudal Filaments with intersegmental setae
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Forefemur
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Maxillary palps
                                 
                  + 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:
                           Gills on abdominal segment 1 rudimentary or absent. Abdominal segment 2 without gills. Gills on abdominal segments 3 (if present) and 4–7 have two layers: a top layer that is oval and plate-like and a bottom layer that is multi-lobed; in preserved specimens these gills lying in paired dorsal depressions and camouflaged, not readily seen by novices. Abdominal terga often with paired tubercles. Mature larvae 5–15 mm long, not including tails.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Maxillary palps well developed. Forefemora thicker than foretibiae, lacking conspicuous anterior tubercles, spurs, or spines, but almost always with some bristle-like or robust setae on top. Gills arising from posterior margins of abdominal segments 3-7. Main part of ventral lamella of each abdominal gill 6 entire, not cleft. Caudal filaments (tails) with many interfacing fine setae (at least 3 or 4 on a side of each segment).
                     
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Ventral
               


