Order Ephemeroptera – mayflies
Ephemeroptera means “short-lived wing”
Habitat: fast flowing streams and shallow ponds with high levels of dissolved oxygen.
Traits:
- Adults live on land 1-2 days, long enough to mate, often in swarming flights
- Females deposit eggs on the surface of a pond or stream, or object in water.
- Eggs hatch into nymphs that feed on algae and detritus.
- Nymphs are aquatic and live 1-2 years before emerging as winged adults.
mayfly
Flat-head mayfly