In our article we want to talk about such a small creature as a mayfly larva. It can be found in clear waters among plants. It is distinguished from other larvae by long antennae on its head.
Features of mayflies
It is worth noting that such tiny creatures represent the order of mayfly insects, and have the scientific name of cloena. And they are also called blizzards. Many fish feed on them and their larvae with great pleasure. Moths fall into the water, and the fish immediately try to grab the treat and eat it.
Surely you have repeatedly seen how small insects flock to the light of lanterns or the lights of steamships on warm and quiet evenings. This is what mayflies are. They are very easy to recognize. They have two pairs of transparent reticulate wings, with the anterior ones always much larger than the hind ones. In calm weather, it is incredibly interesting to watch them fly. They quickly flap their wings and fly up, after which they freeze and, as if onparachute, go down.
The Russian name "mayflies" in itself speaks of a short period of existence of these creatures. They live from several hours to two days. Insects are interesting in that their larval stage can last for several years, but at the same time, adults are given a very short period, which is equal to several hours or one day. Such a paradox in development is difficult to explain.
What does a mayfly larva look like?
But the larvae of these insects develop in the water. They have a slender body and developed legs, as well as bundles of tracheal gills on both sides of the abdomen. One mayfly larva has seven pairs of gills that look like flat oval plates.
The first six pairs always fluctuate, but the seventh stays still. First, the first pair begins to move, followed by the second, and so on. Thus, a constant current of water is formed, going from the front to the rear gills. An interesting fact is that in water enriched with oxygen, the movement of the gills is significantly slowed down. But if there is not enough oxygen, then they move so intensively that a “shine” effect is created around them.
What do mayfly larvae eat?
The larvae feed on particles of organic matter, which are so small that they do not attract other aquatic life. The mayfly larva is able to turn this waste into the substance of its body, in turn, it serves as a source of food for birds, fish, amphibians, and predatory aquatic insects. The life of these creatures is full of dangers, not all of them surviveto maturity. Only a few of them live at the bottom of the reservoir for about two years, while shedding a huge number of times. And coming out of the water, there are only a couple of hours, after which they die. The wings of an adult insect are very delicate, and the legs are incredibly weak for walking.
What does an adult mayfly larva eat? The mouth apparatus of the insect does not function, and sometimes is completely absent. This is due to the fact that an adult creature simply does not eat. The digestive system of the insect is filled with air, this creates additional lift that helps the fragile wings of the mayfly. The mouth apparatus of an insect is simply not designed for nutrition. It seems that such unadapted creatures appeared quite recently. But this is absolutely not true. Fossils of these insects have been found even in layers of the late Permian period, their age is 250 million years.
Adult mayfly breeding
When mature, they reach two or three centimeters. In the caudal region, the mayfly larva has three very long caudal filaments, which are its distinguishing feature. These threads help them swim, their action is like flippers or a tail.
It must be said that an adult insect does not live long. Its life cycle is equal to the time it takes to participate in the mating flight, performed in the evening on the shore or over the river. Out of a whole swarm of males, only one representative quickly flies out and grabs the female, which is ready for breeding. In her body is a largethe number of eggs. She releases them into the water, and she herself dies. The next morning after such a mating dance, all the banks and the surface of the water are strewn with dead insects. This is how one mayfly larva ends its life cycle and a new life begins.
The further fate of the larvae
In the Great Lakes region, in the north of America, there are such years when insects are removed from city streets by trucks, which cover roads and carriageways with a large layer, making them incredibly slippery. Having finished the mating dance, the adult insect dies, but the eggs that fall into the water are just beginning their life cycle. They have a wonderful mechanism to help them survive. Each egg is equipped with thin threads that unfold the moment it first touches the water. Such threads have sticky areas, thanks to which the egg can be held at the bottom of the reservoir.
Mayfly larvae are often preyed upon by dragonfly larvae. This predatory insect not only eats its own kind, but also hunts tadpoles and fry. There are enough enemies in the life of mayflies, so not all of them complete the full life cycle.
Lifestyle
The larva of the mayfly butterfly spends its entire life in the water. It's hard to imagine, but in two or three years of underwater life, the creature molts up to forty times, which is a complete record for insects. So, for example, butterfly caterpillars molt all five times. A feature of mayflies is the fact that they molt after they have acquired wings. Leaves the water winged, but not sexually maturecreature. Then another molt occurs, and a mature insect is born, which immediately goes on a mating flight.
All varieties of mayflies fly out overnight and very amicably. Once, on a quiet evening, whole myriads of insects can be seen above the water surface. Their number is so great that a cloud of these creatures can extend hundreds of meters. There are even cases when cars stall in such a cluster of mayflies because their radiators are clogged with insects.
Dead after mating dance creatures are excellent food for fish. Fishermen use insects as bait for fishing.
Varieties of mayflies
There are more than two thousand mayflies all over the world. And in Russia, about 250 varieties have been noted, of which more than a hundred are found in the European part. The most common insects in our area are creatures belonging to the families of seven-day-old, thin-veined, two-tailed and real mayflies. The smallest and most numerous are the two-tails.
And the largest species in Russia can be considered the common mayfly, which reaches a length of 15-20 mm.
Where do insects live?
Different types of mayflies live in different places. Some stick to algae and disguise themselves as grass, others prefer stagnant water, and still others swarm in bottom silt and debris. In flowing reservoirs, insects hide under stones. It doesn't matter whichthe environment is inhabited by a larva, but each of them accumulates a decent fat layer during its underwater life, which it will later need in its adult state.
Instead of afterword
Such amazing little creatures as mayflies have a fairly long period of underwater existence and a very short and rapid life in the adult stage. Their bright but short flight sometimes seems fabulous and ephemeral.
