Information Sheet
Pond Animals 
Mayfly Nymph
Scientific Name: Centroptilum species.
Group: Insect
Size:10-20mm
These are only found in very clean water containing lots of oxygen. They absorb oxygen from the water through their gills. The River Stour has lots of mayfly nymphs but there used to be far fewer in the lakes. Removing rotting vegetation from the water has improved the water quality and now the mayfly nymphs are back in large numbers. 

Food chain
Position in food chain:
Primary consumer (herbivore)
They eat: plants and algea
They are eaten by:
water spiders


Mayfly nymph gills under the microscope.

 

Find out more about Mayflies

Canterbury Environmental Education Centre

Life cycle
Mayfly nymphs grow into mayflies that look like the fly above. You can see them in spring, they only live for a day, just enough time to lay their eggs in water. Mayflies are often used by Anglers as bait for trout.