Mayflies Order: Ephemeroptera Status: Not Listed Classification: Invertebrate

Description Despite their name, mayflies are active during the warmer months of the year, not just May. They tend to be gray, yellow, or brown and have long, thin abdomens. Mayfly larvae are aquatic and found in nearly all types of water bodies, from streams to lakes. The larva is often used as a bioindicator species to measure the health of water. Mayflies can vary in size, growing anywhere from a quarter-inch (0.6 centimeters) to 1.1 inches (2.8 centimeters).

Range Mayflies are found throughout North America and worldwide. Most of the nymphs develop in streams and rivers that are relatively clean.

Diet Mayfly larvae feed on detritus and other plant materials. Some may feed on insects. The adults do not feed.

Life History Females deposit eggs in the water. Mayflies spend most of their lives in the water as nymphs and then emerge as adults for only a short while. Adults will live only a day or so, but the aquatic larvae lives for about a year.

Conservation Their status is unknown.

Fun Fact There are more than 600 species of mayfly in the United States and 3,000 worldwide.