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Description
The short-lived adult mayfly has very large triangular front wings and sometimes smaller hind wings. There are about 2,500 different species that vary in size, shape and coloring. Despite this variation, they all have a very similar and very brief life cycle.
Birth and Early Stages
Mayfly eggs usually hatch in lakes and streams. When they hatch, the larvae go through several stages of development over the period of about a year. They molt, or shed, their outer shell several times as they slowly mature underwater.
Reaching the Surface
Eventually immature mayflies swim to the surface and climb onto a semi-dry surface, like a rock or a plant. Once out of the water, they molt again, within a few minutes, into a juvenile fly with wings. This juvenile fly will fly away from the water to nearby plants.
The Final Molt
After leaving the watery habitat that the mayfly has called home for nearly a year, the juvenile fly will molt one final time and emerge as an adult mayfly. Mayflies are the only species of insects who molt after they have developed wings.
The Brief Life of Adult Mayflies
Once a mayfly reaches adulthood, its life is very nearly over. It doesn't bother eating. They only live from 30 minutes to three days, depending on the species. These adults spend that short time swarming and mating in the air. After they mate, females will fly low over water, dipping into the surface to lay their eggs. These mothers die soon after, often right on the surface of the water where they left their eggs.