Mayflies are also called shadflies and lake flies. They are aquatic insects and contribute to the food source for fish and reptiles.
They get their name because they emerge during the month of May. They are found in the United States, Canada, and Greenland. Since 2015, they have also been reported to be in Central American countries and Mexico.
Their color varies but basically, it's pretty dull in hue. They have clear wings due to their diet. They don't eat rich foods and they don't eat on a schedule. They eat whatever they can, whenever they can.
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| Mayflies have a short lifespan |
They have six legs and two or three tails that are often longer than the entire length of their bodies which is about one inch long.
Mayflies are part of an ancient group called Palaeoptera. In that group are also dragonflies and damselflies. There are over 3000 species of mayflies worldwide.
You can get a better idea of the size of the Mayfly in this picture showing a mayfly sitting on a human fingernail.
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| Look how little it is! Fits on a fingernail. |
Mayflies are more active during the warm months and can be somewhat of a pest. If your property is infested with mayflies, there's only so much you can do on your own. It's probably best to hire a professional pest control company to get rid of them.
They don't sting or bite but because they are attracted by light, they swarm at night around lighted buildings which can alarm some people.
You can change your indoor and outdoor lightbulbs to only yellow bulbs which will lessen their attraction to bright white light. Keep screens in your windows and storm doors, and seal any gaps or cracks because they can get into the home via the smallest of gaps.
Life Span
Mayflies spend their juvenile life (one to three years) as water crawlers and they spend their much shorter adult life in the air and on land.
Once they leave the water, they dry off for one or two days to shed their skin, then fly away to mate. Male mayflies die right after mating. Females die after they lay their eggs.
Their incredibly short life span makes one wonder why they exist at all. The answer is because they are a valuable part of the food chain for fish and humans in several ways:
- because they live in streams, ponds, shallow lakes, and rivers, they are used to monitor water quality;
- the energy that is stored in algae and other aquatic plants is prepared by mayflies so it can be a food source for fish, birds, and other invertebrates;
- they are a vital source of food for over 225 species of fish, toads, frogs, some reptiles, and birds.
- they are also a food source for humans in at least ten countries where whole communities gather to collect them. They either eaten raw, or they are sun-dried, then ground into flour to make cakes and bread.
The mayfly life cycle begins and ends with reproduction. It is the only insect that has two adult stages. The first stage is sexually immature until it emerges from the water. In the final stage, mayflies molt, reproduce, then die.
Sources:
Purdue Department of Entomology
Maine.gov
The Chesapeake Bay Program
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