Invertebrate Zoology: A Tutorial - T. A. Dauda 2014

Multicellular Animals
Arthropods
Subphylum Tracheata - Class Insecta - Orders with Incomplete Metamorphosis - Order Ephemeroptera

There are about 2,000 known species of mayflies.

Their body length ranges from 10 to 15 mm. The Water/140.html">Anatomical Structure of mayflies is adapted for aerial drifting. Their forewings are significantly larger than the hindwings, and the end of the abdomen bears 2 or 3 long caudal filaments. With a few beats of their wings, they ascend to a certain height, and then, spreading their caudal filaments and extending their long legs forward, they glide downward like a parachute before taking flight again. This type of flight is sometimes referred to as "dancing".

In their adult stage (imago), mayflies do not feed; their mouthparts are underdeveloped, and their digestive tract is filled with air. This is due to the extremely short lifespan of the imago: many live for only 2–3 hours, during which they lay their eggs in the water and die. Some species live for 2–3 days.

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Fig. 62 Common mayfly:

1 — adult form; 2 — larva.

Almost the entire lifespan of mayflies (2–3 years) is spent in the larval stage (in aquatic habitats). Among them, swimming, burrowing, and crawling forms can be found. The larvae breathe through gills located along the sides of their abdominal segments.

The best-known species are the common mayfly, which features three long caudal filaments (Fig. 62), and the two-winged mayfly, which has two caudal filaments and a single pair of forewings. Mayfly larvae serve as an important food source for fish and fry.



Last update: 13/08/2026

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