Family Ephemeridae - Common Burrower Mayflies

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Common Burrower Mayfly - Hexagenia - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

Family Ephemeridae (Common Burrower Mayflies)

Numbers

Three genera, 13 species in North America (1)

Size

10-30 mm

Identification

Large size, "strongly divergent M and Cu veins in front wings." (1) Hindwings small.

"Naiads have long cylidrical bodies, tapered at both ends, shapr mandibles that curve outward like tusks, long fringed antenna, three cauda (anal filaments) and legs adapted for digging in the mud." (2)

Arnett order #6 family #11. (1)

Habitat

Streams, lakes and nearby.

Season

Summer.

Food

Adults do not feed.

Life Cycle

Larvae burrow in sand, silt of streams, lakes. Adults come to lights.

Print References

Arnett, p. 116, fig. 6.9 (1)

Swan and Papp, p. 167 (2)

Internet References

Mayflies of the United States

ITIS

Aquatic Insects of Michigan

Freshwater Macro-Invertebrates of New Brunswick--photos of naiad

Insects of Cedar Creek--no photos

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

2.	The Common Insects of North America By Lester A. Swan, Charles S. Papp

Contributed by Cotinis on 24 March, 2005 - 4:37am

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