The Mayfly
The mayfly is a small insect, as little as it may sound, it has a big part in our rivers. The mayfly has existed for over 350 million years and is very special.Mayfly are one of the oldest winged insects on the planet.Many scientists have studied this aquatic insect and have given us this information.
The Mayfly is a very unusual and unique species. It has many interesting features. The mayfly is usually green but there are over 1500 species so there's probably a range of colours.It is usualy ½ to 1 inch in length and has two or three long tails. It also has two sets of wings.This insect is definitely original.The mayfly lives in rivers and can be found all over the world.
The lifecycle of the mayfly unique is a way of transforming from a nymph to a spinner But however has an incomplete metamorphosis.The female lays the eggs on the surface of the water. They eventually sink to the bottom.The mayfly emerges from the water as a dull coloured dun.After a few hours of being on land it sheds it’s skin and turns into a brightly coloured spinner. The mayfly breathes through it’s gills on it’s abdomen that look a bit like tubes.They get oxygen from collected water. The mayfly larvae mainly eats algae and collects it by grazing over stones and weeds.
The Mayfly can not handle polluted waters. So the mayfly can only live in fresh clean rivers. So to help the mayfly we could move livestock away from the rivers to prevent further pollution. But you can also help in your own home as well by using biodegradable and environmentally friendly products.The mayfly is an important part of the food chain, for example the mayfly eats the algae and the frog eats the mayfly. If the mayfly disappears the food chain may suffer.
In conclusion the mayfly is a unique and wonderful insect that needs to be protected from pollution and chemicals.We need to protect our rivers and creatures living inside them. The mayfly has many unique features from two to three tails to eating algae. It truly is a fascinating creature.
