Mayflies have an interesting relationship with folks who live near rivers. Hexagenia mayflies are very common in Iowa rivers and they tend to emerge in huge swarms which cover nearly everything in sight. The swarms can be so big that they’re occasionally picked up on weather radar. They can cover bridges in such numbers that they can cause traffic accidents.
It’s a common myth that mayflies only live 24 hours. It’s partially true…some species in the family Behningiidae have adult lives for only 15 minutes. Many others have adult lives that last about 24 hours. Some can live up to a few weeks as adults.
Mayflies live most of their lives under water. They’re a surprisingly diverse group…there are currently 24 families recognized. Some are predators, and some filter food out of the water. The species portrayed in this video is a grazer…essentially the cows of the Mississippi river.
Mayflies are odd insects in that they have a winged immature stage. Insects normally get wings when they moult into an adult, but in the case of mayflies they have a winged sub-adult stage that’s covered in tiny waterproof hairs.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Culture, Ephemeroptera, Hexagenia, Local, Mayflies
