Ephemeroptera: Baetidae of Gunnison County, ColoradoCallibaetis ferrugineus hageni
Speckled Wing Dun Eaton, 1885
Updated 22 February 2026
TSN 609704
This female has been laying eggs, you can tell by the split near the back of her abdomen. After living much longer than most Baetid mayflies, she is able to lay eggs that hatch immediately. The fancy word for that is ovoviviparity.
Good Links
On this website:
Introduction to Baetidae
Other Websites:
Photos, Map, Taxon Identifier Numbers - from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Callibaetis ferrugineus hageni at Gbif
Photos, Map, Museums, DNA - Barcode of Life Data System
References
Buchwalter,DB; Jenkins,JJ and Curtis,LR 2002 Respiratory strategy is a major determinant of [3H] water and [14C] chlorpyrifos uptake in aquatic insects. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 59(8), pp.1315-1322. PDF
Caudill,CC 2002 Metapopulation biology of the mayfly Callibaetis ferrugineus hageni in high elevation beaver ponds. Cornell University Ph.D. Thesis. PDF
The author worked in Beaver Ponds in the Upper East River Valley near the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab. Abstract: "Organisms live in spatially complex environments, and many species persist as regional metapopulations, where dispersal among local subpopulations occupying habitat "patches" may strongly influence ecological and evolutionary processes. Three generations of the mayfly Callibaetis ferrugineus hageni were studied in a beaver pond metapopulation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The biology of adults, and patterns of larval abundance, recruitment, development, and behavior were examined to determine how trout predators, larval behavior within ponds, and adult dispersal among ponds interact to influence individual mayfly fitness and metapopulation dynamics.
Adult female size was strongly associated with potential fitness (fecundity). Females became sexually receptive one stage sooner than most mayflies (subimago stage), which may influence male swarming behavior and longevity. In males, there was no clear relationship between size and mating success. Males swarmed at their natal pond, while females frequently dispersed among ponds. Females did not avoid ovipositing in ponds with trout.
Patterns of oviposition, larval recruitment, and adult emergence revealed demographic sources and sinks in the metapopulation. To test whether trout negatively impacted pond quality, trout densities were manipulated and pond quality was inferred from local mayfly population growth rates. The results provided evidence that trout predators affected patch quality such that ponds with high trout densities were sinks, while ponds with low trout density were sources or sinks. Further, mayfly populations in ponds with high trout density would quickly go extinct without immigration from source ponds.
Surprisingly, larvae did not exhibit adaptive anti-predator avoidance behaviors or adaptive life history shifts in the presence of trout chemical cues. The lack of response to trout predators may result from conflicting selection pressure for rapid development in temporary fishless habitats. Additionally, frequent dispersal between fish and fishless habitat types may inhibit the evolution of traits adaptive to sink habitats.
Overall, the observed source-sink dynamic in the mayfly metapopulation resulted from a combination of adult dispersal, larval behavior, and the distribution of predators. Similar source-sink metapopulation dynamics may be common in other taxa with complex life cycles, especially insects with unselective oviposition or those with a "passive" dispersal stage (plants, marine invertebrates, and fishes)."
Caudill,CC 2003 Measuring dispersal in a metapopulation using stable isotope enrichment: high rates of sex-biased dispersal between patches in a mayfly metapopulation. Oikos 101 (3) 624-630. PDF
Caudill,CC 2003 Empirical evidence for nonselective recruitment and a source-sink dynamic in a mayfly metapopulation. Ecology 84:2119-2132. PDF
Caudill,CC 2005Trout predators and demographic sources and sinks in a mayfly metapopulation. Ecology 86:935-946. PDF
Caudill,CC and Peckarsky,BL 2003 Lack of appropriate behavioral or developmental responses by mayfly larvae to trout predators. Ecology 84:2133-2144. PDF
Check,GR 1982 A revision of the North American spcies of Callibaetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Minnesota, USA.
Introduction: "The genus Callibaetis Eaton, 1881 is one of the most abundant and widespread genera of Ephemeroptera. The adults are medium-sized mayflies and are often variable in color. The nymphs are elongated and slender (Fig . 171) and are adapted to live in almost any lentic or slow-flowing waters of the Nearctic and Neotropic (including the West Indies), with exception of more extremely high elevations and northern latitudes. Callibaetis is one of the few baetid genera present on pacific oceanic islands (Edmunds, 1972). The nymphs can tolerate aquatic environments of varying levels of temperature, pH, and salinity (Edmunds et al., 1976). One species even ocurs in brackishwater (Berner and Sloan, 1954). In temperate zones of North America, the reproductive season usually commences in March or April and ends about mid October. The nymphs are the overwintering stage."
Cruz,PV; Salles,FF and Hamada,N 2017 Phylogeny of Callibaetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) based on morphology of nymphs and adults. Zoologica Scripta, 46(2), pp.138-149. PDF
Abstract: "Callibaetis is considered to be one of the most problematic genera among mayflies by a series of taxonomic inaccuracies that have accumulated over the last two centuries. Despite these taxonomic problems, two independent hypotheses of species groups have been proposed. In the first hypothesis, three species groups for North America were proposed, and in the second, three species groups were proposed for South American. In these hypotheses, the generic delimitation and monophyly of Callibaetis have not been evaluated under a cladistic framework. Taking this into account, the objectives of this study were to verify the monophyly of Callibaetis and whether the groups of species proposed for the genus are corroborated as natural. The matrix included 128 morphological characters and one habitat character, 119 discrete characters were compiled (101 of nymphs and 18 of adults), and six imaginal characters are related to pigmentation pattern. Continuous characters were ratios and were represented by 10 characters (nine for nymphs and one for adults). The data set was analysed under implied weights. Group support was estimated with relative Bremer support and frequency differences. The results corroborated the monophyletic nature of Callibaetis and the generic status of Callibaetoides; however, the groups proposed for North and South American Callibaetis species were not corroborated. Our study indicated four groups of species for the genus, which we proposed as subgenera: Callibaetis, Abaetetuba subgen. n. Aiso subgen. n. and Cunhaporanga subgen. n."
Detmer,TM; McCutchan Jr,JH and Lewis Jr,WM 2017 Predator driven changes in prey size distribution stabilize secondary production in lacustrine food webs. Limnology and Oceanography, 62(2)592-605. PDF
Dodds,GS 1923 Mayflies from Colorado: descriptions of certain species and notes on others. Transactions of American Entomological Society (69) 93-116. PDF
Discussed as Callibaetis fusca.
Dodds,GS and Hisaw,FL 1925. Ecological studies on aquatic insects. IV. Altitudinal range and zonation of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies in the Colorado Rockies. Ecology 6(4)380-390. Abstract PDF
Eaton,AE 1881 An announcement of new genera of the Ephemeridae. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 17:191-197.
Describes the mayfly genus Callibaetis for the first time.
Eaton,AE 1883-1888 A revisional monograph of recent Ephemeridae or mayflies. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Second Series, Zoology 3:1-352, 65 pl.
Described as Callibaetis hageni.
Edmunds Jr,GF 1945 Ovoviviparous mayflies of the genus Callibaetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae). Entomological News 56:169-171. PDF
Edmunds Jr,GF and McCafferty,WP 1988 The mayfly subimago. Annual review of entomology, 33(1)509-527. PDF
Scanning electron microscope image in Figure 1 of C. ferrugineus adult right wing at fork of radius vein showing a smooth surface and apex of subimago abdomen displaying various setae, microtrichia and small spines.
Gibbs,KE 1979 Ovoviviparity and nymphal seasonal movements of Callibaetis spp.(Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in a pond in southwestern Quebec. The Canadian Entomologist, 111(08), 927-931. PDF
Abstract: " Callibaetis ferrugineus (Walsh) and C. fluctuons (Walsh) nymphs moved from the shallow, peripheral area of a pond during the late summer and autumn to the deeper water where they overwintered. In the spring they returned to the peripheral area where they were found throughout the summer. C. ferrugineus and C. fluctuans are ovoviviparous. A relationship between ovoviviparity and seasonal movements of the nymphs is suggested. "
Harper,PP and Harper,F 1997 Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of the Yukon. Pp. 152-167 In: H.V. Danks and J.A. Downes, eds. Insects of the Yukon. Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods). Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Jensen,SL 1966 The Mayflies of Idaho (Ephemeroptera). M.S. Thesis, University of Utah, Utah. 364 p.
Discussed as Callibaetis coloradensis.
Kolar,CS and Rahel,FJ 1993 Interaction of a biotic factor (predator presence) and an abiotic factor (low oxygen) as an influence on benthic invertebrate communities. Oecologia 95(2) 210 - 219 DOI: 10.1007/BF00323492 PDF
Abstract: "We examined the response of benthic invertebrates to hypoxia and predation risk in bioassay and behavioral experiments. In the bioassay, four invertebrate species differed widely in their tolerance of hypoxia. The mayfly, Callibaetis montanus, and the beetle larva, Hydaticus modestus, exhibited a low tolerance of hypoxia, the amphipod, Gammarus lacustris, was intermediate in its response and the caddisfly, Hesperophylax occidentalis, showed high tolerance of hypoxia. In the behavioral experiments, we observed the response of these benthic invertebrates, which differ in locomotor abilities, to vertical oxygen and temperature gradients similar to those in an ice-covered pond. With adequate oxygen, invertebrates typically remained on the bottom substrate. As benthic oxygen declined in the absence of fish, all taxa moved above the benthic refuge to areas with higher oxygen concentrations. In the presence of fish mayflies increased activity whereas all other taxa decreased activity in response to hypoxia. Mayflies and amphipods remained in the benthic refuge longer and endured lower oxygen concentrations whereas the vertical distribution of caddisflies and beetle larvae was not influenced by the presence of fish. As benthic oxygen declined in the presence of fish, all but the beetle larva reduced activity over all oxygen concentrations compared to when fish were absent. As benthic oxygen continued to decline, mayflies and amphipods moved above the benthic refuge and were preyed upon by fish. Thus, highly mobile taxa unable to tolerate hypoxia (mayflies and amphipods) responded behaviorally to declining oxygen concentrations by migrating upward in the water column. Taxa that were less mobile (beetle larvae) or hypoxia-tolerant (caddisflies) showed less of a response. Taxa most vulnerable to fish predation (mayflies and amphipods) showed a stronger behavioral response to predator presence than those less vulnerable (caddisflies and beetle larvae). Because invertebrates differ in their ability to withstand hypoxia, episodes of winter hypoxia could have long-lasting effects on benthic invertebrate communities either by direct mortality or selective predation on less tolerant taxa."
Komnick,H and Abel,JH Jr. 1971 Location and fine structure of the chloride cells and their porous plates in Callibaetis spec. (Ephemeropteraa, Baetidae). PDF
Komnick,H; Rhees,RW and Abel,JH 1972 The function of ephemerid chloride cells. Histochemical, autoradiographic and physiological studies with radioactive chloride on Callibaetis. Cytobiologie 5:65-82. PDF
They worked on Callibaetis collected near Fort Collins, CO. By labeling chloride solutions and exposing Calibaetis larvae to various salt solutions, they established that Callibaetis can absorb chloride from a hypotonic solution which is more dilute than their body fluids. This is important for osmoregulation in a freshwater environment.
Komnick,H and Stockem,W 1973 The porous plates of coniform chloride cells in mayfly larvae: high-resolution analysis and demonstration of solute pathways. Journal of Cell Science 12:665-681. PDF
Discusses C. hageni as C. coloradensis.
Abstract: "The porous plates of coniform chloride cells in mayfly larvae were studied by electron microscopy using carbon replicas, whole-mount cuticles and thin sections. The cuticular skeleton of the porous plates is a local differentiation of the epicuticle forming a structure of extremely high organization. It is composed of cylindrical rods, which measure 20ranin diameter, and are oriented perpendicular to the cuticular surface. They form an overlapping hexagonal pattern and are interconnected by double rows of transverse bars which are arranged in a complicated but regular fashion. This spongy skeleton defines a continuous space system which may be characterized as composed of triangular pores, the sides of which measure 20 nm. The pores are arranged in a hexagonal pattern, and interconnected via slit-like communica- tions. The porous plates are covered with a porous lamina which possesses 2-5-nm-wide pores in hexagonal arrangement.
Results obtained from negative staining, infiltration with colloidal lanthanum hydroxide and histochemical precipitation of sodium indicate that the porous system provides pathways for solutes across the cuticle.
The 3-dimensiona] architecture of the porous plates is reconstructed in a model that also
includes morphogenetic aspects."
Lugo-Ortiz,CR and McCafferty,WP 1996 Contribution to the taxonomy of Callibaetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in southwestern North America and Middle America. Aquatic Insects 18:1-9. PDF
McCafferty,WP 1996a Emendations to the Callibaetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) of South America. Entomological News 107 4, 230-232. PDF
McCafferty,WP 1996b The Ephemeroptera species of North America and index to their complete nomenclature. Transactions of American Entomological Society 122 1, 1-54. PDF
Synonymizes or merges the name Callibaetis americanus with Callibaetis ferrigineus hageni. Quote from the abstract on page 1: "Changes to the list are as follows: Callibaetis ferrigineus hageni Eaton, 1885, new status [=C. americanus Banks, 1900, new synonym] and Callibaetis ferrigineus ferrigineus (Walsh), 1862, new status, are western and eastern subspecies, respectively" The website http://www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology/research/mayfly/basis.html updates this publication.
McCafferty,WP; Durfee,RS and Kondratieff,BC 1993 Colorado mayflies (Ephemeroptera): an annotated inventory. Southwestern Naturalist 38 3, 252-274. PDF
Quote from page 257: "This is a widespread western species that ranges into Alaska. It is found in ponds, pools of streams, and even moderate current in streams. We treat C. americanus as distinct from the eastern C. ferrugineus (Walsh) (see McCafferty and Waltz, 1990)."
McCafferty,WP and Provonsha,AV The Mayflies of North AmericaSpecies List (Version 8Feb2011)
Here is the geographic range and synonyms:
Callibaetis ferrugineus hageni Eaton, 1885 [CAN:FN,NW;USA:FN,NW,SW]
* Baetis tessellata Hagen, 1861 (hom.: B. tessellata Walker, 1853)
* Callibaetis americanus Banks, 1900 (syn.)
* Callibaetis carolus Traver, 1935 (syn.)
* Callibaetis coloradensis Banks, 1900 (syn.)
* Callibaetis evergreenensis Thew, 1959 (syn.)
* Callibaetis fusca Dodds, 1923 (syn., spell.)
* Callibaetis fuscus Dodds, 1923 (syn.)
* Callibaetis hageni Eaton, 1885 (orig.)
* Callibaetis hebes Upholt, 1936 (syn.)
* Callibaetis nigritus Banks, 1918 (syn.)
* Callibaetis tessellatus (Hagen), 1861 (hom.comb.)
McCafferty,WP and Waltz,RD 1990 Revisionary synopsis of the Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) of North and Central America. Transactions of American Entomological Society 116:769-799. PDF
In this publication the authors decided that Callibaetis americanus lived in western North America and Callibaetis ferrugineus occupies eastern North America. More recently taxonomists have settled on teh idea that the western species is Callibaetis ferrugineus hageni and the eastern species is Callibaetis ferrugineus ferrugineus.
Newell,RL and Hossack,BR 2009 Large, wetland-associated mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of Glacier National Park, Montana. Western North American Naturalist, 69(3) 335-342. Abstract and PDF
Poff,NL; Olden,JD; Viera,NKM; Finn,DS; Simmons,MP and Kondratieff,BC 2006 Functional trait niches of American lotic insects: traits-based ecological applications in light of phylogenetic relationships. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 25 (4) 730-755. PDF
Here are the traits for this species from the Appendix:
| Life History |
Voltinism |
Bi or multivoltine - more than 1 generation/yr |
| Development |
Fast Seasonal |
| Synchronization of emergence |
Poorly synchronized |
| Adult life span |
Less than 1 week |
| Adult ability to exit |
Absent |
| Ability to survive dessication |
Absent |
| Mobility |
Female dispersal |
Less than 1km flight before laying eggs |
| Adult flying strength |
Weak - cannot fly into light breeze |
| Occurance in drift |
Rare (catastrophic only) |
| Maximum crawling rate |
Low - less than 100cm/hour |
| Swimming ability |
Strong |
| Morphology |
Attachment |
None (free ranging) |
| Armoring |
None (soft -bodied forms) |
| Shape |
Streamlined (fusiform) |
| Respiration |
Gills |
| Size at maturity |
Small (less than 9mm) |
| Ecology |
Rheophily |
Depositional only |
| Thermal preference |
Cool/Warm eurythermal |
| Habit |
Swim |
| Trophic habit |
Collector-gatherer |
Wang,TQ and McCafferty,WP 1996 New diagnostic characters for the mayfly family Baetidae (Ephemeroptera). Entomological News 107 2, 207-212. PDF
Zuellig,RE; Heinold,BD; Kondratieff,BC and Ruiter,DE 2012 Diversity and Distribution of Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), Stoneflies (Plecoptera), and Caddisflies (Trichoptera) of the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, 1873-2010.U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 606, 257 p. PDF - caution 46MB
Elevation collected: 10,150 - 2,850 ft. Adults were found April-September. Quote from page 21-22: "Remarks: This is the most ubiquitous lentic (prefers mostly standing water habitats) mayfly species of the SPRB. It probably is more common across the eastern plains part of the SPRB than these records indicate. Interestingly, Caudill (2002) observed females of this species in the Gunnison River in Colorado mating as winged subimagoes then molting to the full imago stage two weeks later to bear live larvae. Check (1982) revised the Callibaetis species of North America."
A salamanders view of recently emerged Callibaetis adult floating on the surface of a pond.
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