Mayfly
Order Ephemeroptera
Ephemeral Adults
The name Ephemeroptera means "short-lived wings." Adult Mayflies are famous for their extremely brief lifespan, which can last from as little as 30 minutes up to a couple of days.
Water Quality Indicators
Mayfly nymphs are highly sensitive to water pollution and low oxygen levels. Their presence and diversity are a key indicator that a stream, river, or lake has excellent water quality.
Massive Hatches
When conditions are just right, entire populations of nymphs emerge simultaneously in massive "hatches" that can darken the sky and show up on weather radar.
Field notes
| Range | Cosmopolitan |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Nymph/Larval Stage: 6 months to 3 years |
| Size | Most species range from 4 mm to 30 mm in body length |
| Weight | Very lightweight; only a few milligrams |
| Colour | Generally light colors: translucent, white, gray, tan |
| Diet | Nymphs: Aquatic herbivores, grazing on algae, diatoms |
| Family | Over 3,000 described species |
In the book
The Mayfly is number 51 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
