Mayflies are aquatic insects belonging to the order Ephemeroptera. This order is part of an ancient group of insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies. Over 3,000 species of mayfly are known worldwide, grouped into over 400 genera in 42 families.
Ephemeridae is a family of mayflies with about 150 described species found throughout the world except Australia and Oceania. These are generally quite large mayflies with either two or three very long tails. Many species have distinctively patterned wings.
Pentagenia robusta, the robust burrowing mayfly, is a recently extinct species of mayfly in the family Ephemeridae. It was endemic to the United States, found in the states Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
Pentagenia, similar to Hexagenia, is a genus of insect in the family Ephemeridae, commonly referred to as burrowing mayflies.
Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in the superfamily Leptophlebioidea. There are around 131 genera and 640 described species. Leptophlebiids are easily recognized by the forked gills present on the larvae's abdomen, thus their common name.
Ephemera danica, the green drake or green drake mayfly, is a species of mayfly in the genus Ephemera.
Ephemeroidea is a superfamily of mayflies. Members of this superfamily are found in most parts of the world with the exception of the Arctic, the Antarctic and Australia.
Hexagenia is a genus of mayfly in the family Ephemeridae, the common burrower mayflies.
Ephemera vulgata is a species of mayfly in the genus Ephemera. This mayfly breeds in stationary water in slow rivers and in ponds, the nymphs developing in the mud.
Hexagenia limbata, the giant mayfly, is a species of mayfly in the family Ephemeridae. It is native to North America where it is distributed widely near lakes and slow-moving rivers. The larvae, known as nymphs, are aquatic and burrow in mud and the adult insects have brief lives. They are often referred to as fish flies around the Great Lakes as they tend to cause the areas around water to smell like rotten fish.
Hexagenia bilineata is a species of mayfly in the family Ephemeridae. It is native to North America where it is found in the Upper Mississippi Valley. Sometimes adults of this mayfly are so abundant as to cause a nuisance because of their enormous numbers. The larvae are aquatic and burrow in mud and the adult insects have brief lives.
Litobrancha is a genus of common burrower mayflies in the family Ephemeridae. There is at least one described species in Litobrancha, L. recurvata.
Hexagenia atrocaudata is a species of common burrower mayfly in the family Ephemeridae. It is found in North America.
Ephemera annandalei is a species of burrowing mayfly in the family Ephemeridae.
Ephemera blanda is a species of common burrower mayfly in the family Ephemeridae. It is found in southeastern Canada and the southeastern United States.
Ephemera simulans is a species of mayfly. It is commonly found throughout the United States. The species is used for fly fishing.
Ameletus is a genus of mayfly and the type genus of the family Ameletidae.
Furcatergalia is a suborder of mayflies in the order Ephemeroptera. There are about 14 families and at least 1,700 described species in Furcatergalia.
Hexagenia orlando is a species of common burrower mayfly in the family Ephemeridae. It is found in North America.
