Everyone knows April showers bring May flowers, but what does May bring?
Of course, May brings Mother’s Day and Mayflies.
Mayflies are found in many regions throughout the world except Antarctica. There are even mayflies in Iceland and Greenland.
You might not have given much thought to this unusual insect. After all, the mayfly isn’t quite like most flying insects. The name itself is somewhat of a misnomer—while a mayfly is technically a fly, it doesn’t spend much time airborne.
But, considering their habits, perhaps the name mayfly is fitting. Even though they have wings, it hardly seems to matter if their flight lasts only a day or less.
What’s the deal with mayflies?
Why does this fly’s name involve a month and maybe a day?
Research reveals that May is the peak hatching period for many mayflies, even though it’s not the exact hatching time for every species. The climate, location, species, and other factors can influence peak hatching.
Beyond their name and hatching habits, mayflies are intriguing for other reasons, such as where and how long they live.
These reed-like critters, with two antenna-like extensions from their abdomens and four-veined wings, have unusual characteristics. They aren’t your ordinary fly.
Mayflies do not begin their life cycle in dry or moist soil, on tree limbs, grass, plants, or any other land-based environment. They start as eggs in freshwater and become water-based nymphs with gills. These gilled nymphs feed on algae and underwater plant matter, living in the watery silt, sand, gravel, rocks, and vegetation.
After a watery life for up to several years, the nymphs become winged adults that live out of the water. Soon after obtaining their wings, fertile adults mate in mid-air and use up the energy stored while underwater. They lay their eggs in the oxygen-rich freshwater, and the life cycle repeats itself for another generation of mayflies.
In many instances, adult mayflies live only a day, or two at most.
To say the least, mayflies’ adult lives are brief.
Mayflies are classified as Ephemeroptera, a group whose name means “short-lived, ephemeral.”
Why such a short life?
Adult mayflies do not eat. Unlike many other insects, they lack functioning mouths.
We can understand why some people call mayflies dayflies.
Mayflies are also known for their enormous swarms that are large enough to be detectable on radar. The swarms increase mating and thereby the species’ reproduction.
Additionally, mayflies serve as important indicators of good water quality. They are less common in stagnant, polluted springs, rivers, ponds, and other oxygen-poor environments.
Since mayflies are found almost worldwide, what are some other names for the abundant insects?
In different parts of the world, mayflies may also be called up-winged flies, up-wing flies, drake-flies, shadflies, or fishflies.
Up-winged – because similar to butterflies, mayflies’ wings are upright over their bodies
Drake-flies – the term drake is from the Greek word draco, which means dragon, for its dragon-like appearance
Shad or fishflies – because of their ability to swarm in large numbers around lights.
As the month of May approaches, don’t forget about the mayflies.
Also don’t forget Mother’s Day.
I hope you are happy and well.