Pronunciation: e-phm-er-OP-ter-a

Common name(s): mayflies

Mouthparts:

• adults- vestigial-adults don't feed
• naiads - chewing mouthparts (they are predacious or herbivores)

Wings: two pair; front wings triangular and much larger; wings with many veins; wings flap (an inefficient pattern) so they have limited flight; they cannot fold their wings so held vertically when at rest.

Metamorphosis: hemimetabolus with a unique subadult (=subimago); a winged adult emerges from water, climbs on vegetation and then molts to adult stage.

Body characteristics:

• adults
  • wings of adults
  • 2 or 3 terminal tails on abdomen.
  • Long legs; body thin and elongate.
• naiads
  • abdominal gills and 3 feathery gills at end of abdomen.

Where found: naiads in fresh water and adults very close to water

Economic impact: important in aquatic food chain (favorite model for fly fisherman); can use species distribution patterns to monitor environmental degradation; heavy adult emergence may make walking/driving near water hazardous due to "slippery" wings

Size of order: 2250 species worldwide but tropical and oriental fauna not well studied. Many fossils as once more common.

References: Peters pg. 405; metamorphosis 106-107; flight 78-79

• Gordon's Entomological Homepage
• University of Arizona Tree of Life Page (Very Interesting Site!)