May flies have very thin, segmented, delicate bodies. Most freshly hatched duns have bodies that are fairly opaque.
Many species have subtle, but distinctive banded coloration in the abdominal area.
The anterior abdominal area often rests on the water surface as the insect dries its wings. It may be the single most visible target for the trout. Very early fly tiers found that stripped hackle stem was the perfect material for many patterns. It is tapered at about the same rate as many may fly bodies. Because of this taper the quill will fit many sizes, depending on which diameter is tied to the hook.