# Giant Mayflies (*Hexagenia*) Giant Mayflies are fascinating insects that spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs. When they grow up, they come out of the water, fly around for a short time, and then lay eggs to start the cycle again! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Giant Mayflies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hexagenia_limbata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Cody Hough, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hexagenia_limbata.jpg) ## Appearance The Giant Mayflies has a soft, robust body, typically yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, often larger than other mayflies. They feature two or three long, delicate tails and large, clear, triangular wings with prominent veins, sometimes with an amber tint. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Ephemeroptera - **Family:** Ephemeridae - **Genus:** Hexagenia ## Interesting facts - A swarm of these mayflies can be so dense it shows up on weather radar! - Adult Giant Mayflies have no stomach or digestive system at all! - Mayflies are among the most ancient groups of winged insects on Earth! - Their presence indicates very clean, healthy freshwater environments! ## Special abilities - **Long Underwater Life:** Giant Mayflies can live underwater for up to two years as nymphs, breathing through feathery gills that help them absorb oxygen from the water. - **Unique Molting Stage:** Giant Mayflies has a unique 'subimago' stage, allowing them to molt one last time after developing wings, helping them become fully mature adults. - **Mass Emergence:** Giant Mayflies can emerge in massive numbers almost simultaneously, creating huge swarms that help them find mates quickly and overwhelm predators. - **Adult Hunger Strike:** Giant Mayflies has non-functional mouthparts as adults, meaning they don't eat at all, which helps them focus entirely on reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-70 mm - **Size:** 25-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 1-730 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Young mayflies filter tiny food particles from water, while adults do not eat at all! - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on detritus and algae, but adults have vestigial mouthparts and do not consume food, focusing solely on reproduction. - **Primary Foods:** detritus, algae, diatoms, microscopic organisms - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — Both nymphs and adults are a key food source. - **Eaten by:** [Common Tern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-tern) (*Sterna hirundo*) — Adult swarms provide an abundant aerial meal. - **Eats:** Green Alga (*Chlorella vulgaris*) — Larvae filter these microscopic plants from water. ## 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. - [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. - [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. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [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 Giant Mayflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Giant 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 Giant Mayflies's wingspan? 40-70 mm ### How big is Giant Mayflies? 25-30 mm ### How long does Giant Mayflies live? 1-730 days ### How fast can Giant Mayflies fly? 5 km/h ### What does Giant Mayflies eat? Young mayflies filter tiny food particles from water, while adults do not eat at all! ### Where is Giant Mayflies usually found? Wetlands ### How does Giant Mayflies hunt? Filter feeding ## Where to spot - [Charbonneau Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charbonneau-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Maheras-Gentry Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maheras-gentry-park) — Michigan, US · Park ## 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: [Giant Mayflies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-mayflies)