# Ecdyonurus Ecdyonurus is a type of mayfly that lives in clean water. They have delicate wings and are known for their short life as adults, which is often just a day or two! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Freshwater streams ![Ecdyonurus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ecdyonurus_venosus.jpg&width=800) Photo: M. Albi, CC BY-SA 3.0 es · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ecdyonurus_venosus.jpg) ## Appearance The Ecdyonurus is a delicate insect, typically having a flat, broad head and two prominent compound eyes. Its body is slender, often brown or grayish, with two pairs of clear, veined wings and usually two or three long, slender tails (cerci) extending from its rear. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Ephemeroptera - **Family:** Heptageniidae - **Genus:** Ecdyonurus ## Interesting facts - Adult Ecdyonurus never eat! Their only job is to reproduce before they disappear. - Ecdyonurus adults have huge eyes that help them spot mates while flying! - Finding Ecdyonurus nymphs means the river water is super clean and healthy! - Some Ecdyonurus adults live for only a few hours to find a mate! ## Special abilities - **Rock Gripper:** Ecdyonurus nymphs can cling tightly to rocks in fast-flowing water because of their flattened bodies and strong claws, which helps them avoid being washed away. - **Underwater Breather:** Ecdyonurus nymphs can breathe underwater using specialized plate-like gills along their abdomen, allowing them to live in oxygen-rich streams. - **Double Molt Flight:** Ecdyonurus has a unique pre-adult flying stage called a subimago, which molts again into a true adult after leaving the water. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-30 mm - **Size:** 8-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 1-7 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Young Ecdyonurus munch on tiny plant bits and algae from river rocks! - **Age differences:** Nymphs graze on algae and detritus, but adults do not feed at all. - **Primary Foods:** algae, diatoms, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) — A primary food source for this fish. - **Eaten by:** [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) — Often preyed upon by these freshwater fish. - **Eaten by:** [White-throated Dipper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-throated-dipper) (*Cinclus cinclus*) — Important food for dipper birds near rivers. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [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. - [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 Always wash your hands after playing near water to stay clean and safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ecdyonurus? 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 Ecdyonurus's wingspan? 12-30 mm ### How big is Ecdyonurus? 8-15 mm ### How long does Ecdyonurus live? 1-7 days ### How fast can Ecdyonurus fly? 8 km/h ### What does Ecdyonurus eat? Young Ecdyonurus munch on tiny plant bits and algae from river rocks! ### Where is Ecdyonurus usually found? Freshwater streams ### How does Ecdyonurus hunt? Foraging ## 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: [Ecdyonurus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ecdyonurus)