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Good to know
Six things about mayflies
LifeOne day as an adult
A mayfly spends one or two years underwater as a nymph, then lives as an adult for only a day or so.
MouthNo need to eat
Adult mayflies cannot feed. Their only job is to find a mate and lay eggs.
MoultTwo sets of wings
Mayflies are the only insects that shed their skin again after they already have working wings.
DanceThe dance
Males gather in swarms and fly up and drift down, over and over, to attract females.
OldAn ancient family
Mayflies were flying more than 300 million years ago, long before the dinosaurs.
TroutA feast for fish
When mayflies hatch in large numbers, trout rise to the surface to feed on them.
The real thing
Photos of mayflies
Out and aboutHow to spot them
Visit a clean river or stream on a warm afternoon in late May or early June and watch the air above the water for insects rising and falling.
Lend a handHow to help
Mayflies need clean water. Use less detergent, never tip chemicals down drains, and support your local river group.
Following youLadybird
Who should follow you?
These live somewhere else: choosing one takes you to their page.
Bees and hoverflies
Butterflies and moths
Dragonflies and damselflies
Beetles, hoppers and ants
Not insects at all
Snails and spiders aren't insects: a snail is a mollusc, and spiders have eight legs.
These live somewhere else: choosing one takes you to their page.
Garden birds
Pond animals live on the Pond page: choosing one takes you there.
Pond life
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Night garden
Seashore animals live on the Seashore page: choosing one takes you there.
Rock pool life
These live somewhere else: choosing one takes you to their page.
Woodland animals
These live somewhere else: choosing one takes you to their page.
Under a log
These live somewhere else: choosing one takes you to their page.
Meadow life
River life
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