Hendricksons light/dark a bit confusing

[Ant]

Originally Posted by Taxon

Ant-

The following are the mayfly common names in use which include Hendrickson, and their current scientific name with prior scientific name appearing in parentheses:

Common Name - Scientific Name
Bluewinged Hendrickson – Ephemerella subvaria
Dark Blue Hendrickson - Ephemerella invaria
Dark Hendrickson - Ephemerella invaria
Dark Hendrickson - Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerella rotunda)
Dark Hendrickson - Ephemerella needhami
Dark Hendrickson - Ephemerella subvaria
Dark Hendrickson - Serratella deficiens
Dark Hendrickson - Ephemerella excrucians
Hendrickson - Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerella rotunda)
Hendrickson - Ephemerella subvaria
Hendrickson - Ephemerella invaria
Large Dark Hendrickson - Timpanoga hecuba hecuba (Ephemerella hecuba)
Light Hendrickson - Ephemerella invaria
Light Hendrickson - Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerella rotunda)
Little Dark Hendrickson - Ephemerella needhami
Little Dark Hendrickson - Serratella deficiens
Little Dark Hendrickson - Serratella serrata
Small Western Dark Hendrickson - Serratella tibialis

When differentiating betwen sexes, the common name Hendrickson is often used to refer to an Ephemerella subvaria female, and Red Quill is used to refer to an E. subvaria male. Other non-Hendrickson common names used to refer to E. subvaria are Beaverkill, Borcher’s Drake, Brown Hen Spinner, Lady Beaverkill, and Red Quill Spinner.

The common name Dark Hendrickson is most often used to refer to Ephemerella invaria. Other non-Hendrickson common names used to refer to E. invaria are Chocolate Dun, Dark Red Quill, Lady Beaverkill, Little Marryat, Pale Evening Dun, Pale Evening Spinner, Red Quill, Sulphur, Sulphur Dun, Whirling Dun, Yellow Dun, Yellow Egg Spinner, and Yellow May.

Perhaps this illustrates the futility of attempting to use common names to refer to certain mayflies.

Ouch. Taxon thanks for all the info.

I can see why so many sources I have checked are different.

Thanks to all for giving your input.

For patterns I think I will stick with 2 options. The larger dark male and the smaller female light. Both with 3 tails.

Ant