Mayfly report

Mayfly Report

Introduction

The Mayfly is a strange and interesting creature with a lot of strange features it is a native New Zealand insect.

Some of the mayfly features are its two little eyes on the top of its head or its little antennae like tail or its four tiny wings.the mayfly can be found in shallow still water areas and swampy land in between long grass and weeds.

The first stage of the mayfly life cycle is as an egg then the next stage is a nymph then the next stage is the adult mayfly or the spinner to then drop the eggs and start the life cycle all over again

The mayfly has gills that look a little like a tube on the rectum which they  breathe oxygen collected from the water. Some other species of mayfly have vibrating gills which directs more water over their gills increasing the oxygen being sucked in. As I researched the mayfly nymph must always be moving to collect oxygen from the water.

How do the mayfly affect our lives. Well as I read “Mayfly nymphs are an important component of many freshwater ecosystems. Grazing by mayflies is important in preventing the build-up of a large biomass of aquatic algae and detritus, and in nutrient cycling. Because mayflies can be quite abundant in many habitats, they are an important food for many species of predators.”