Mayfly
Centroptilum
species
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order: Ephemeroptera
Young
Mayfly
Nymph
Young mayfly nymphs live in freshwater, and absorb oxygen from the water through their gills. The adults fly.
Adult Mayfly
Habitat
Mayfly nymphs are only found in very clean water containing lots of oxygen.
The adults live around freshwater.
Moving around
As nymphs, they walk on the sediment, and occasionally swim. They often hide under rocks.
As
adults, they can fly.
Feeding
They eat: Mayfly nymphs are herbivores. They eat water plants and tiny algae.
The adults do not feed, and only live for a day or so.
They
are eaten by: water spiders, newts,
damselfly and dragonfly
nymphs, frog and
newt tadpoles when
they are in their nymph stage. When
they grow into adults, they are eaten by dragonflies,
birds
and fish. The fish pluck them from the surface of the water.
Reproduction
They undergo incomplete metamorphosis.
The nymphs may take from 2 months to 2 years (depending on species) before they swim to the water surface and shed their nymphal skin or ‘shuck’ and emerge as the winged fly. You can see them in spring.
Many Mayfly nymphs emerge as winged adult flies in May - hence the name "Mayfly".
The adults only live for a day - just enough time to lay their eggs in water. They don't even have time to feed.
Breathing
Mayflies are only
found in very clean water containing lots of oxygen. They absorb oxygen
from the water through their gills which are plate like structures attached
to the sides of the abdominal region.
Size
10-20 mm
