Mayflies or “Fish flies”

Description• Mainly aquatic

insects • Nymphs live

for 1 year.

Description

• Flying adults live less than a day.

• Also called Fish flies

Metamorphosis• Incomplete & Complete

Metamorphosis• Developmental Adaptation

Mayfly Metamorphosis

Winged adults emerge from aquatic nymphs

Mayfly Nymphs• Feathery Gills

(Structural Adaptation)

• Many species can vibrate gills (Behavioral Adaptation)

Mayfly Nymphs• Live under

stones or in burrows

• Behavioral Adaptation

Mayfly Nymphs• Cerci

• Defensive adaptation (Structural)

• “Scorpion Stance”

Mayfly Reproduction

• Adults only purpose is to reproduce

• Emerge in SWARMS!

Mayfly Swarms• Developmental

Adaptation• More chances to

find a mate• Reduces losses

by predation

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Mayfly Swarms June 2010

swarm picked up on Doppler radar!

Bibliography1. Encyclopedia of Life. “Mayflies” Accessed Nov 6, 2010

http://www.eol.org/pages/5232. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Animal

Sciences.Volume 94, Number 3, 351-357 June, 1985. “Behavioural strategies of emergence, swarming, mating and oviposition in mayflies” by K G Sivaramakrishnan and K Venkataraman

3. Buglopedia. “Mayflies” Accessed Nov 6, 2010 http://www.bugsurvey.nsw.gov.au/html/popups/bpedia_02_vsens_ma-ny-a.html

4. “Mayfly Cerci as Defense against Stonefly Predation: Deflection and Detection.” Barbara L. Peckarsky. Oikos Vol. 48, No. 2 (Feb., 1987), pp. 161-170. Accessed Nov 8, 2010 http://www.jstor.org/stable/3565851