SUMMARY1 The interaction of water depth and velocity with size, sex and morphotype of nymphs belonging to the leptophlebiid mayfly genusDeleatidiumwas investigated in a New Zealand river.2 Velocity had a significant effect on distribution such that larger nymphs tended to be found more commonly in faster water. Depth also influenced size distribution, but in different ways at different sites.3 Water velocity or depth alone did not significantly influence the distribution of sexes (1.0 mm head width), but the combined effect of these two factors was significant. Final instar males appeared to be relatively more abundant in slower water than final instar females.4 Nymphs (1.0 mm head width) belonging to the informallilliigroup (apically pointed gills) were present over a wide range of depth and velocity conditions, but those belonging to themyzobranchiagroup (round‐tipped gills) were largely restricted to fast water (>0.9ms−1).5 Several mechanisms thought to cause variations in microdistribution are discussed. These include differential effects of oxygen availability, food requirements and drag forces, nymphal behaviour, and selection of oviposition si