# Burrowing Mayflies (*Ephemeridae*) Burrowing Mayflies are special insects that spend most of their lives underwater as tiny larvae. They come out of the water to fly for just a short time, making them unique and interesting to watch! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Burrowing Mayflies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Haft.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haft.jpg) ## Appearance The Burrowing Mayflies has a slender, often drab brown or grey body with two or three long, delicate tail filaments. Its larvae are easily distinguished by their large, feathery gills along the abdomen, designed for life underground. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Ephemeroptera - **Family:** Ephemeridae ## Interesting facts - Adult mayflies have no mouths or stomachs; their only job is to mate! - Mayfly larvae are like tiny natural pollution detectors for healthy rivers! - Some mayfly larvae build elaborate, silk-lined tunnels deep under riverbeds! - They are one of Earth's oldest insect groups, flying for over 300 million years! ## Special abilities - **Subterranean Engineer:** Burrowing Mayflies can dig U-shaped tunnels using strong mandibles, which helps them find shelter and food safely in riverbeds. - **Underwater Breath:** Burrowing Mayflies have large, feathery abdominal gills that help them breathe efficiently even in low-oxygen water within burrows. - **Synchronized Swarm:** Burrowing Mayflies can emerge in massive, synchronized swarms, which helps overwhelm predators and ensure successful mating. - **Double Transformation:** Burrowing Mayflies have a unique winged subimago stage, which helps them complete a final molt before becoming fully reproductive adults. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-50 mm - **Size:** 10-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-1095 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny plant bits and decaying matter are eaten by larvae; adults don't eat at all! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat detritus and algae; adults do not feed and lack functional mouthparts. - **Primary Foods:** Detritus, Algae, Organic particles, Microscopic plants - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) — Trout are major predators of mayfly larvae and emerging adults. - **Eaten by:** [Common Green Darner](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-green-darner) (*Anax junius*) — Dragonfly nymphs are fierce hunters of mayfly larvae underwater. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Birds often snatch adult mayflies from the air during their swarming flights. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Mayflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Burrowing Mayflies? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Burrowing Mayflies's wingspan? 20-50 mm ### How big is Burrowing Mayflies? 10-30 mm ### How long does Burrowing Mayflies live? 365-1095 days ### How fast can Burrowing Mayflies fly? 5 km/h ### What does Burrowing Mayflies eat? Tiny plant bits and decaying matter are eaten by larvae; adults don't eat at all! ### Where is Burrowing Mayflies usually found? Wetlands ### How does Burrowing Mayflies hunt? Filter feeding ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Burrowing Mayflies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/burrowing-mayflies)