Stream Mayflies

Heptageniidae

Stream mayflies are tiny insects that live in clean, fresh water. They have delicate wings and can often be seen dancing above streams on sunny days.

Lebensraum: Freshwater streams

Aussehen

The Stream Mayflies has flattened, streamlined bodies adapted for fast-flowing water. They typically have two or three long, thread-like tails and prominent plate-like gills along their abdomen. Colors range from dull browns and greens to mottled patterns, helping them blend with riverbeds.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungEphemeropteraFamilieHeptageniidae

Stream Mayflies

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Adult mayflies have no functional mouthparts; they don't eat at all!

Mayfly eyes can be huge and divided, letting them see above and below water!

Some adult mayflies have two pairs of wings, but only use the front pair for flight!

They are the only insect group that molts after developing functional wings!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Stream Mayflies can cling tightly to rocks because they have flattened bodies and strong claws that help them resist swift currents.

Stream Mayflies has feather-like gills along their abdomen that helps them extract oxygen directly from the water while submerged.

Stream Mayflies can shed their skin one last time after they grow wings, which helps them become even better, fully mature fliers.

Stream Mayflies can indicate clean water because their delicate nymphs are highly sensitive to pollution, helping them act as natural monitors.

Maße und Details

Flügelspannweite: 10-30 mm
Größe: 5-20 mm
Lebenserwartung: 30-365 Tage
Fluggeschwindigkeit: 10 km/h
Anzahl der Beine: 6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Nymphs graze on tiny plants and decaying bits, while adults astonishingly do not eat at all!

Altersunterschiede: Nymphs are active feeders, but adults have non-functional mouths and do not eat during their short lives.

Hauptnahrung

algae
diatoms
detritus
decaying plant matter
fungi

Nahrungssuche

Grazing

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eaten by

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

A key food source for many fish species.

eaten by

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Adults are caught mid-air by these agile birds.

eats

Diatom

Diatoma vulgaris

Nymphs scrape and feed on these microscopic algae.

eaten by

Common Green Darner

Anax junius

Dragonfly nymphs prey on mayfly nymphs in the water.

Merkmale

Sozial

Soziale Tiere leben in organisierten Gruppen und kooperieren, um ihr Überleben zu sichern, beispielsweise bei der Nahrungssuche, Verteidigung und Aufzucht der Jungen.