Mayflies
Order Ephemeroptera
The Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera) includes 387 species across 22 families and 82 genera in our directory.
About Mayflies
Ephemeroptera (mayflies) includes ~3,500 described species. Adult mayflies are famous for their extraordinarily short lifespans - some species live as adults for only 5 minutes to 24 hours, the shortest adult lifespan of any insect.
Economic Impact
Mayfly hatches are so massive they appear on weather radar - a 2014 Mississippi River hatch near La Crosse, Wisconsin was tracked by the National Weather Service. Mass emergences can cause slippery road conditions and traffic hazards.
Ecological Role
Mayfly nymphs spend 1-2 years developing in freshwater before emerging as adults. They are key bioindicators - their presence indicates clean, well-oxygenated water. They are also a primary food source for freshwater fish.
Families in Ephemeroptera (22)
Species in Ephemeroptera (387)
Acentrella insignificans
Acentrella insignificans
Acentrella nadineae
Acentrella nadineae
Acentrella parvula
Acentrella parvula
Acentrella turbida
Acentrella turbida
Acerpenna macdunnoughi
Acerpenna macdunnoughi
Acerpenna parvula
Acerpenna parvula
Acerpenna pygmaea
Acerpenna pygmaea
Ameletus bellulus
Ameletus bellulus
Ameletus browni
Ameletus browni
Ameletus celer
Ameletus celer
Ameletus cryptostimulus
Ameletus cryptostimulus
Ameletus lineatus
Ameletus lineatus
Ameletus ludens
Ameletus ludens
Ameletus similior
Ameletus similior
Ameletus subnotatus
Ameletus subnotatus
Ameletus tertius
Ameletus tertius
Ameletus validus
Ameletus validus
Ameletus velox
Ameletus velox
Ameletus vernalis
Ameletus vernalis
Amercaenis ridens
Amercaenis ridens
Ametropus ammophilus
Ametropus ammophilus
Anafroptilum album
Anafroptilum album
Anafroptilum asperatum
Anafroptilum asperatum
Anafroptilum bifurcatum
Anafroptilum bifurcatum
Anafroptilum conturbatum
Anafroptilum conturbatum
Anafroptilum minor
Anafroptilum minor
Analetris eximia
Analetris eximia
Anthopotamus distinctus
Anthopotamus distinctus
Anthopotamus myops
Anthopotamus myops
Anthopotamus neglectus
Anthopotamus neglectus
Anthopotamus verticis
Anthopotamus verticis
Arthroplea bipunctata
Arthroplea bipunctata
Attenella attenuata
Attenella attenuata
Attenella delantala
Attenella delantala
Attenella margarita
Attenella margarita
Attenella soquele
Attenella soquele
Baetis alius
Baetis alius
Baetis bicaudatus
Baetis bicaudatus
Baetis brunneicolor
Baetis brunneicolor
Baetis flavistriga
Baetis flavistriga
Baetis intercalaris
Baetis intercalaris
Baetis notos
Baetis notos
Baetis piscatoris
Baetis piscatoris
Baetis pluto
Baetis pluto
Baetis tricaudatus
Baetis tricaudatus
Baetisca berneri
Baetisca berneri
Baetisca lacustris
Baetisca lacustris
Baetisca laurentina
Baetisca laurentina
Baetisca rogersi
Baetisca rogersi
Baetodes bibranchius
Baetodes bibranchius
Baetodes edmundsi
Baetodes edmundsi
Blue-winged Olive
Serratella ignita
Brachycercus harrisellus
Brachycercus harrisellus
Brachycercus nitidus
Brachycercus nitidus
Caenis amica
Caenis amica
Caenis anceps
Caenis anceps
Caenis hilaris
Caenis hilaris
Caenis latipennis
Caenis latipennis
Caenis tardata
Caenis tardata
Callibaetis californicus
Callibaetis californicus
Callibaetis ferrugineus
Callibaetis ferrugineus
Callibaetis floridanus
Callibaetis floridanus
Callibaetis fluctuans
Callibaetis fluctuans
Callibaetis montanus
Callibaetis montanus
Callibaetis pallidus
Callibaetis pallidus
Callibaetis pretiosus
Callibaetis pretiosus
Callibaetis skokianus
Callibaetis skokianus
Camelobaetidius warreni
Camelobaetidius warreni
Caudatella heterocaudata
Caudatella heterocaudata
Cinygma dimicki
Cinygma dimicki
Cinygma integrum
Cinygma integrum
Cinygma lyriforme
Cinygma lyriforme
Cinygmula reticulata
Cinygmula reticulata
Cinygmula subaequalis
Cinygmula subaequalis
Claret Dun
Leptophlebia vespertina
Coffinfly
Ephemera guttulata
Dannella lita
Dannella lita
Diphetor hageni
Diphetor hageni
Ditch Dun
Habrophlebia fusca
Dolania americana
Dolania americana
Drake Mackerel
Ephemera vulgata
Drunella coloradensis
Drunella coloradensis
Drunella cornuta
Drunella cornuta
Drunella cornutella
Drunella cornutella
Drunella doddsii
Drunella doddsii
Drunella flavilinea
Drunella flavilinea
Drunella grandis
Drunella grandis
Drunella lata
Drunella lata
Drunella pelosa
Drunella pelosa
Drunella spinifera
Drunella spinifera
Drunella tuberculata
Drunella tuberculata
Drunella walkeri
Drunella walkeri
Ecdyonurus simplicioides
Ecdyonurus simplicioides
Epeorus albertae
Epeorus albertae
Epeorus deceptivus
Epeorus deceptivus
Epeorus dispar
Epeorus dispar
Epeorus dulciana
Epeorus dulciana
Epeorus fragilis
Epeorus fragilis
Epeorus grandis
Epeorus grandis
Epeorus longimanus
Epeorus longimanus