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Hexagenia limbata ?? Lovely and yellow
Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Dear Bug Person,
As a family of amateur naturalists, we implore you to help us correctly identify this lovely yellow specimen my son found near the banks of the James River today. We’d love to be able to add it’s name to our nature journals! It was struggling to fly when we found it and lifted it to a branch so it could be upright.
A Thousand Thanks
Sincerely, The Farmer Family
Richmond,Virginia

Mayfly Subimago

Dear Farmer Family,
We cannot say for certain that this Mayfly is Hexagenia limbata, but that is a good possibility based on the images posted to BugGuide.  We will post your letter and hopefully, one of our readers who knows more about the order Ephemeroptera will be able to provide a definite  answer.  We do believe this is a subimago, or preadult and that it will molt one more time before becoming a true reproductive adult with clear wings.  You may read more about Mayflies on BugGuide.

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