Drunella lata
(Morgan, 1911)
Drunella lata is a of spiny crawler mayfly in the Ephemerellidae. It was first described by Morgan in 1911. The species is found in North America and belongs to a commonly known as "green drakes" among fly fishermen. Like other members of Ephemerellidae, it has aquatic nymphs and winged .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Drunella lata: /drʊˈnɛl.lə ˈlɑː.tə/
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Identification
Distinguishing Drunella lata from requires examination of nymphal gill structure, abdominal spines, and genitalia. The epithet "lata" (Latin for "broad") may refer to a relatively wide body form or specific , though precise diagnostic characters require . Adults would be recognized as typical "green drake" mayflies with triangular forewings, three caudal filaments, and holding wings vertically when at rest.
Distribution
North America. Specific regional records are sparse; the has been documented in the with distribution records indicating presence in the NeArctic region.
Life Cycle
As with all Ephemeroptera, development includes , aquatic nymph (naiad), subimago (dun), and (spinner) stages. Nymphs are aquatic and crawl among stream substrates—hence the "spiny crawler mayfly" for the . are short-lived and do not feed.
Ecological Role
Aquatic nymphs function as or grazers in stream , processing organic matter and serving as prey for fish. provide food for aerial and emerging adults are significant prey for trout and other sport fish.
Human Relevance
Members of the Drunella, including related such as D. grandis, are important to fly fishermen as "green drakes." While D. lata itself is not specifically documented in angling literature, it likely contributes to local trout in its range. Artificial fly patterns imitating Drunella species are tied to match the body size, silhouette, and color of natural insects.
Similar Taxa
- Drunella grandisLarger and more commonly referenced "green drake" in western North American fly-fishing literature; are mimicked with extended-body fly patterns.
- Drunella doddsiiAnother congeneric green drake with overlapping western North American distribution; requires genitalic examination for definitive separation.
- Ephemerella spp.Related in the same with similar nymph ; distinguished by gill formula and abdominal patterns.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Drunella was formerly treated as a subgenus of Ephemerella. -level in this group relies heavily on nymphal characters and male genitalia, with many species descriptions based on limited material.