Match the Flower


Phenology—a branch of science dealing with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena (insect mergence an plant flowering).


Have you ever noticed that certain hatches appear at the same time that a particular plant blooms? I have studied the hatches for the past 50 years. I have noted that the emergence time of these hatches correlates very closely with the flowing of some plants. I even mentioned this correlation in 1977 in Meeting and Fishing the Hatches. For example, the early season Blue Quill mayfly usually appears at the time the forsythia is ready to bloom, around April 12 in central Pennsylvania. On warm springs the hatch appears earlier—and so does the flower; on unusually cool springs the hatch appears later and so does the flower. Here are a few of the major hatches and the flowers that appear at the time of the emergence.


For example, I’ve noted that at the time when the domestic rhododendron first blooms the Brown Drake usually appears. That goes for the entire United States. I’ll never forget the time I fished the Brown Drake hatch on Henry’s Fork in Idaho. I still remember hiking past a ranger’s house on my way out that evening after fishing the hatch and seeing a rhododendron bush in its full purple glory.



Grannom (Brachycentrus fuliginosus)-- Forsythia just opening


Blue Quill (Paraleptophlebia adoptiva)-- Forsythia in heavy yellow bud

Quill Gordon (Epeorus pleuralis)—Forsythia in heavy yellow bud

Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria)—Forsythia just opening

Sulphur (Ephemerella invaria) and Pale Morning Dun (W)(Ephemerella inermis)--Lilac in bloom

March Brown (Mccaffertium vicarium)**—Dame’s rocket blooming

Light Cahill (Stenacron interpunctatum)—Oxeye daisy first blooms

Slate Drake (Isonychia bicolor)—Oxeye daisy blooming

Brown Drake (Ephemera simulans)—Domestic rhododendron first blooming

Green Drake (Ephemera guttulata)—Locust tree blooming

Blue-Winged Olive Dun (Drunella lata)*—Oxeye daisy blooming

Yellow Drake (Ephemera varia)—Elderberry blooming and chicory flower first opens

Trico (Tricorythodes species)—Spotted knapweed blooming

White Fly (Ephoron leukon)---New England aster just opening

*Includes cornuta

**Includes Gray Fox

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