




Ephemeroptera
Mayflies are tiny insects that love to live near water. They have delicate wings and are known for their short lives, sometimes just a day or two as adults!
Habitat: Wetlands
The Mayflies has delicate, often transparent wings held upright at rest, and a slender body that ends in two or three long, thread-like tails called cerci. They typically come in subtle shades of brown, grey, or greenish hues. Their unique winged subimago stage visually sets them apart.





Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Adult mayflies don't eat at all; they don't even have functional mouths!
Female mayflies can lay thousands of eggs in minutes, dropping them onto water!
Mayfly nymphs are pollution detectors; their presence means the water is clean!
Some mayflies have only two tails, while others have three, aiding balance!
Mayflies can shed their skin one last time *after* developing wings, unique in insects, to harden their final adult body.
Mayfly nymphs have special feathery gills along their abdomen, allowing them to breathe underwater for years.
Mayflies can emerge from water in massive, synchronized swarms, helping them overwhelm predators and find mates quickly.
Young mayflies (nymphs) eat tiny plants and decaying bits, while adult mayflies do not eat at all!
Age differences: Nymphs feed on algae and decaying matter; adults do not feed and lack functional mouthparts.

Salmo trutta
Trout actively hunt both adult and nymph mayflies.

Hirundo rustica
Swallows expertly catch flying adult mayflies mid-air for food.

Anax imperator
Dragonfly nymphs are fierce underwater predators of mayfly nymphs.
Araneus diadematus
Spiders often catch adult mayflies in their intricate webs.
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
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 animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Mayflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.
2-50 mm
2-30 mm
1-7 days
7 km/h
Young mayflies (nymphs) eat tiny plants and decaying bits, while adult mayflies do not eat at all!
Wetlands
Foraging
6
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.