What Is a Mayfly?

What is a Mayfly?

Mayflies play a major role in the ecosystem despite their short lifespan. They are fascinating insects belonging to the order Ephemeroptera. Mayflies serve as the primary source of food for birds, fish, toads, and other reptiles. Interestingly, there are more than 3000 species of mayflies existing globally. And they are a common sight near water bodies. Let’s look into more details about mayflies, including where they live, their lifecycle, how to get rid of them, their diet, and other interesting facts. 

How Long Does Mayfly Live?

Mayflies mostly live around freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, and streams. They spend most of their time in the water and are sensitive to pollutants. The lifestyle of mayflies is quite short and they can be divided into two stages: the adult stage and the nymph stage. 

In the nymph stage, they live in fresh water and few of them tolerate marine estuaries. They can last from a few months up to a year during this stage. Mayflies move into their adult stage once they fully mature. They have 24 to 72 hours to mate and lay eggs before they die. Adult life is a short life span that does not exceed a single day. 

The Life Cycle of the Mayfly

Mayfly passes through three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Let’s check out a detailed view of each stage. 

Stage 1 – Egg	Stage 2 – Nymph	Stage 3 – Adult
They have oval or round-shaped eggs. Female mayflies can produce 50 to 10000 eggs. They lay their eggs in water and hatch in about 2 weeks. Another method is to place the eggs on the surface of lakes; later, they sink and scatter in aquatic debris.	Depending on the species, this stage can last from 2 weeks to one year. They can grow up to 3 cm long and live in the water. Once they become older, they develop gills. After gaining some strength, they fly from the water surface to a more sheltered place.	This is the shortest stage. Their main purpose is to reproduce. They are devoid of a digestive system and a functional mouth. Adult mayflies mostly die after mating. They cannot drink or eat at this stage.

Do Mayflies Bite or Sting?

Mayflies are completely non-dangerous to humans. They do not bite or sting human skin, unlike mosquitoes. Their main purpose during adult life is to reproduce, and they cannot bite. They do not cause any physical harm to pets or humans. Mayflies play an important role in the ecosystem, serving as food for different species such as frogs, fish, and birds. 

How to Get Rid of Mayflies?

Mayflies are harmless to humans, but they may cause disturbances around your home. There are different methods you can use to reduce and control their presence. Let’s delve into it. 

1. Zappers

Mayflies are attracted to streets and artificial lights. You can use bug zappers to get rid of them. These devices attract insects and zap them with electricity. 

2. Sticky Traps

Another environmentally friendly solution for pest control is using sticky traps. You can hang sticky traps in a space where a lot of mayflies roam. They easily stick to the surface, struggling to escape or fly.

3. Use Garlic

You can use garlic as a deterrent due to its strong smell. Making a spray with garlic and a small amount of water is easy to keep away from the pest. Spray this solution around the areas in which you have seen mayflies. 

4. Prevent Indoor Light

Mayflies are attracted to light like other insects. You can minimize indoor attractions by considering the light. You can use yellow bug lights, LED lights, and sodium vapor lights that are less attractive to mayflies. 

• Ephemeroptera

• Bats
• Sea cows

Mantis 

From smaller to larger sizes, you can find a variety of insects. Look at these unbelievable facts about insects that you must be aware of. 

Mayfly – Diet

Mayflies are known as herbivores as well as detritivores. Their diet mainly consists of algae and detritus. They collect the food by grazing as they move over the weeds and stones. Generally, they can eat what they desire at any time. 

Apart from Mayfly, have you confused bee as an insect or bug? If yes, here is your answer! Bees are the other insects that belong to the Insecta family. 

Interesting Facts about Mayfly

• They have a winged immature stage.
• Their primary purpose is to reproduce and they eventually die after the reproduction.
• Mayflies have two pairs of transparent wings but no gills or mouthparts.
• They are an essential part of the ecosystem.
• Mayflies are harmless and known as Canadian Soldiers.

I hope you know about mayfly habitat, lifecycle, diet, and other interesting facts. Start inspecting the area outside of your home to keep away the mayflies. You can also call upon professional pest control companies for further inspection and evaluation.