Easy, tiger. Went pond dipping with the boy at lunchtime and we didn't fare very well in diversity. However, spying a couple of nymphs with three tails had me reaching for a pot, and excitedly hauling the brand new "Pictorial Guide to British Ephemeroptera" from the shelves. I had only just noticed that nymphs were keyed too, so I was hopeful this might just work.
Unlike many other things that I thought were difficult (and they were) this turned out to be easier than expected. Beginner's luck, no doubt. Gills at the side of the body, streamlined body, antennae relatively long -> Baetidae. Lovely. "Tails" unbanded, centre one shorter -> 5 spp. of Baetis. O.K....
Couple of species out of range; check the others. Baetis rhodani ... gill 1 and 7 same size - yup, gill edge with spines as well as hairs - yup. Spines separate B.rhodani from all other Baetis. Awesome! And habitat is spot on in stony-bottomed fast moving stream. My first ever mayfly keying, and it's only February. Happy days.
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