Mayflies are a distinctive type of insect that got their name from their typical emergence in the month of May.
Adult mayflies live for only a few hours, spending most of their lives in the nymph stage.
Mayflies belong to the phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Hexapoda, class Insecta.
These insects have a unique and strange life cycle, let’s learn more about it through this article from teketrek..
Morphological Characteristics of Mayflies:
Mayflies are slender, long insects with two pairs of wings, six legs, and a set of antennae.
Its wings are usually longer than its body.
The size and color of a mayfly depend on its species; some can be as small as 1 mm, while others can reach up to 30 mm.
Most mayflies have dark, dull bodies, and their wings are yellow, gray, or perhaps transparent.
Habitats of Mayflies:
Mayflies live all over the world, except for the North and South poles.
Mayfly nymphs are always aquatic, but their specific habitat depends on the species, while after maturation, they become terrestrial.
For mayfly nymphs, each species thrives best in an environment with a specific substrate, depth, oxygen level, and amount of wave movement.
Generally, mayfly nymphs tend to live in streams, and some can be found in stagnant waters.
They are also found in cold, clean, and shallow waters, such as shallow streams and on the edges of lakes near the shore.
Diet of Mayflies:
Mayfly larvae are usually detritivores or herbivores, and their diet mainly consists of detritus and algae. These larvae gather their food by grazing as they move over stones and weeds.
Some species have special adaptations for filter feeding, allowing them to feed on small food particles in the water.
Adult mayflies are carnivorous and predatory, eating whatever they can.
Interesting Facts About Mayflies:
The mayfly is the only insect that has a winged immature stage.
Adult mayflies do not have mouthparts or gills, as their function is reproduction, and after they reproduce, they die.
The name mayfly is based on the fact that adults typically appear in May.
The mayfly is an aquatic insect that plays an important role in the ecosystem. It is a vital food source for fish, frogs, newts, birds, and some reptiles.
About 224 species rely on the mayfly for food.
Life Cycle of Mayflies:
It undergoes an incomplete transformation, due to the fact that it does not pass through the pupal stage.
The life cycle of the mayfly includes passing through three stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
Egg Stage:
After mating, the female drops her eggs by dipping them into the water while flying, releasing a few eggs with each dip.
Another method involves laying eggs on the surface of lakes and streams, where they sink and spread among aquatic plants and debris.
Nymphs:
Mayfly nymphs emerge shortly after the eggs are laid.
New nymphs are less than 1 mm long and do not have gills.
Throughout their development, mayfly nymphs can grow up to 3 cm long and go through several stages of development (called instars).
The number of instars depends on the species but can range from 12 to 45.
Nymphs live in the water along the bottoms of freshwater habitats, where they can shelter in the substrate.
As nymphs age, their gills develop, and some signs indicating their sex can be seen in the last few stages before maturation.
The nymph sheds its outer layer (called “molting”) by emptying its guts and filling its middle section with air, while at the same time floating to the water’s surface, and when it reaches the top, it splits its outer layer and its wings emerge.
After a very weak period during which the subimago is so soft and weak that it cannot fly, it gains some strength and then flies from the water’s surface to a more protected place, such as a tree or among tall grass.
The nymphs remain protected and rest until they shed their final skin, which occurs within 24 to 48 hours, resulting in the final stage of the mayfly’s life, the “imago”.
Adult Stage:
The development into adults can take several months to a year. Mayflies have two adult stages, and in both stages, they have wings, live for only a short period, and do not feed.
The first of these stages, called “subimago,” is sexually immature, where the wings are covered with small hair.
The second transformation, called “imago,” gives mayflies shiny and clear wings, and their flying speed increases thanks to their legs and tail, and they become sexually mature.
This stage lasts from a few hours to a few days.
Mayflies usually mate while flying in large swarms gathered near freshwater habitats.
These swarms can be very dense, and males tend to gather near the water, trying to mate with any females that enter the swarm.
When a male succeeds in mating with a female, he guards her to prevent any other male from mating with her.
Adult flies usually emerge in late spring to early fall, mate in swarms, lay eggs, and die.
It is worth noting that mayflies spend most of their lives in the water and only move to land to mate in adulthood.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mayflies:
Mayflies, also known by the scientific name Ephemeroptera, are a common subject of questions due to their unique characteristics and short life cycle.
- How long do mayflies live?
Mayflies have a very short life cycle, where Mayflies lifespan the adult insect living from a few minutes to only a few days¹.
- Where do mayflies live?
Mayflies live in freshwater during the nymph stage and are considered an indicator of water quality because they are sensitive to pollution.
- What are the distinctive characteristics of mayflies?
Mayflies are characterized by their transparent wings and long anal appendages that help them control during flight¹.
- How do mayflies reproduce?
Female mayflies lay thousands of eggs in the water, the nymphs hatch and live in the water for a period ranging from a few months to more than a year before transforming into the adult insect².
In conclusion
despite their small size, mayflies are one of the most important insects living on Earth. For hundreds of millions of years, these insects have transferred nutrients between themselves and many other living organisms.
They are vital to human survival and must be protected.
It is important to focus on helping mayflies grow in the place they belong by caring for freshwater bodies, keeping them clean, and not using chemicals.
