Mayflies belong to the order Ephemeroptera and are aquatic insects found worldwide, with over 3,000 species known, grouped into more than 400 genera across 42 families. They are distinguished by long tails and wings that do not fold flat over the abdomen, and their aquatic nymphal stage serves as an indicator of water quality, since their presence signals a clean, unpolluted and highly oxygenated environment. Mayflies occur on every continent except Antarctica and are an important part of freshwater ecosystems.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMayflies have long tails and wings that do not fold flat over the abdomen. 1 Scientific Name Connections
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Denmark, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Norway, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Sweden, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: United States, found in there.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Mayfly
Introductory paragraph
Mayflies (also up-winged flies or up-wing flies, or drake-flies in the UK; shadflies or fishflies in northern U.S. and Canada) are aquatic insects belonging to the order Ephemeroptera.
Description section
Mayflies have long tails and wings that do not fold flat over the abdomen.
View the Source2. GBIF Species API
3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ174273, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Ephemeroptera
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