ExploreInsects

Giant Mayfly

Hexagenia limbata

The Giant Mayfly is a large insect that lives near water. They are known for their beautiful wings and short life as adults, which is just a few days!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Giant Mayfly has a slender, yellowish-brown body with large, clear triangular wings veined like stained glass. It is visually distinct by its three long, thin tail filaments and often mottled thorax, making it one of the largest mayfly species.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderEphemeropteraFamilyEphemeridaeGenusHexagenia
Giant Mayfly
solitary trait badgeaerial trait badgecolorful trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Giant Mayfly

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Giant Mayflies spend almost their entire lives underwater as tiny nymphs!

Male mayflies perform amazing aerial dances to attract females at dusk!

Mayflies are an ancient insect group, having existed for over 300 million years!

They have no mouthparts as adults, meaning they never eat anything!

Special abilities

Ability

Rapid Transformation

Giant Mayfly has an incredibly short adult lifespan that helps them mate quickly before they perish.

Ability

Underwater Engineer

Giant Mayfly nymphs can dig U-shaped burrows using modified mandibles to shelter from predators and currents.

Ability

Water Quality Witness

Giant Mayfly nymphs require clean, oxygen-rich water, making their presence a sign of a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

Ability

Double-Winged Trick

Giant Mayflies are the only insects that shed their skin again as a winged adult (subimago) before their final flight.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
40-70 mm
Size
25-30 mm
Lifespan
1-2 days
Flight Speed
10 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Nymphs munch on tiny plant bits and decaying matter, while adults don't eat at all!

Age differences: Nymphs eat algae and decaying matter underwater, but adults do not eat, focusing solely on reproduction.

Primary Foods

  • Algae
  • Diatoms
  • Decaying plant matter
  • Organic detritus

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Trout fiercely hunt mayfly nymphs and emerging adults.

eaten by

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow Trout feast on the abundant mayfly nymphs in rivers.

eaten by

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

Swallows dart through swarms, catching adult mayflies mid-air.

eats

Water Silk Algae

Spirogyra porticalis

Mayfly nymphs graze on this common filamentous algae in their habitat.

eats

Green Felt Algae

Cladophora glomerata

Nymphs scrape and consume this common attached algae from surfaces.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Giant Mayflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Giant Mayfly's wingspan?

40-70 mm

How big is Giant Mayfly?

25-30 mm

How long does Giant Mayfly live?

1-2 days

How fast can Giant Mayfly fly?

10 km/h

What does Giant Mayfly eat?

Nymphs munch on tiny plant bits and decaying matter, while adults don't eat at all!

Where is Giant Mayfly usually found?

Wetlands

How does Giant Mayfly hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Giant Mayfly have?

6

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Where to spot

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