# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Giant Mayfly](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 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Ephemeroptera - **Family:** Ephemeridae - **Genus:** Hexagenia ## 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 - **Rapid Transformation:** Giant Mayfly has an incredibly short adult lifespan that helps them mate quickly before they perish. - **Underwater Engineer:** Giant Mayfly nymphs can dig U-shaped burrows using modified mandibles to shelter from predators and currents. - **Water Quality Witness:** Giant Mayfly nymphs require clean, oxygen-rich water, making their presence a sign of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) — Trout fiercely hunt mayfly nymphs and emerging adults. - **Eaten by:** [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) — Rainbow Trout feast on the abundant mayfly nymphs in rivers. - **Eaten by:** [Tree Swallow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [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. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [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. - [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. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## 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. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Giant Mayfly? 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Sacramento Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sacramento-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [California State Capitol](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/california-state-capitol) — California, US · Historic District - [Honor Heights Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/honor-heights-park) — Oklahoma, US · Botanical Garden - [Old Sacramento Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-sacramento-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Lake Bob Sandlin State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-bob-sandlin-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park [View all places to see Giant Mayfly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/giant-mayfly) ## 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 Mayfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-mayfly)