Mayflies are aquatic insects that belong to the order Ephemeroptera. They are also known as shadflies or fishflies in Canada and up-winged flies, up-wing flies, or drake-flies in the UK. This genus belongs to the ephimera, an ancient group of insects that also includes damselflies and dragonflies. There are more than 3,000 recognized species of mayflies in the globe, which are divided into more than 400 genera and 42 families.
Classification of Ephimera (Mayfly)
Phylum – Arthropoda (Jointed Appendages)
Class – Insecta (3 pairs of legs.)
Sub-class – Pterygota (Winged insects.)
Division – Exopterygota (Wings develop externally.)
Order – Ephemeroptera (Live for a day or two adults)
Genus – Ephimera (Mayfly)
Habit and habitat
Ephimera IS a soft-bodied and most familiar insect found on the margins of lakes, streams and rivers.
Distribution
It is found in U.S.A. (Florida, Illinois), India, Srilanka and Myanmar.
Comments on Ephimera (Mayfly)
- Commonly called as Mayfly.
- May flies are small to large, soft bodied, slender insects with gradual metamorphosis.
- Thorax is divisible into small prothorax, long mesothorax and short metathorax.
- Head is small and contains short setaceous antennae, vestigeal but biting mouthparts, a pair of compound eyes and 3 ocelli between compound eyes.
- Thorax has 3 pairs of inconstant walking legs.
- Forewings are, in repose, held together above the body in an upright position and with long anal process.
- Hind wings small.
- The venation is very little reduced with numerous intercalary and cross veins.
- There is no pterostigma in the wings. Abdomen is 10 segmented with a reduced tergum.
- The last segment contains a pair of long many-jointed anal cerci.
- The tergum is produced into a long caudal filament.
- Male has 3 jointed, clasping organ and the female has no ovipositor.
- Nymph lasts for 3 years in water as naiad, feeding on aquatic plants and animals.
- Certain naiads act as intermediate hosts for nematode parasites of vertebrates.
- The imago moults prior to mating and is extremely short lived.
Economic Status
Useful insect. May fly plays an extremely important role in the fish-food economy. They are the most abundant insects found in several types of fishing waters. In these areas fish-stomach content indicate presence of several may flies.
Identification
Since the specimen contains short abdomen and all above features, hence it is May fly.
See other posts also
- PATTERN OF FEEDING AND DIGESTION IN HIGHER INVERTEBRATES
- DISSECTION OF RAT
- PATTERN OF FEEDING AND DIGESTION IN LOWER INVERTEBRATES
- Carausius (Stick Insect)
- Phyllium (Leaf Insect)