Heptagenia elegantula
This record describes Heptagenia elegantula (species). Recorded family: Heptageniidae. Recorded order: Ephemeroptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
- Suborder
- Pisciforma
- Superfamily
- Heptagenioidea
- Family
- Heptageniidae (Flatheaded Mayflies)
- Genus
- Heptagenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Larvae prefer streams with sandy substrates but are tolerant of a considerable amount of sediment and organic matter. They can be taken from a variety of medium to large rocks, logs, and other debris ( 3 )
Geographic Range
most of NA map
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Heptagenia elegantula (Eaton 1885)
About Mayflies: the wider group
Order-level background for Ephemeroptera, the group containing Heptagenia elegantula. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
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.
Ecological role of the group
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.
Economic and practical significance of the group
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.
Recorded sources for this group: National Weather Service, EPA bioassessment protocols. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Heptagenia elegantula (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Roger Rohrbeck; Additional contributions by v belov , Marci Hess