Mayfly nymph
Mayfly adult
Mayfly |
How to make the ID: three tails, but sometimes has two tails. Tails are never paddle or fan like. Adult has two pair of long, lacy wings, two tails.
Its Color: green, gray, brown, but usually black.
How it reproduces: female lays eggs on top of water and they drift to the bottom; some species crawl under water and attach eggs to submerged objects.
Metamorphosis: Incomplete
It is food for: fish, are an important part of the food chain.
Its food: algae, diatoms, and plankton.
Indicator: Sometimes they are tolerant to pollution, but are usually found in cleaner water.
Length: up to 1 inch.