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.
The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin. It is an important Lagerstätte for palaeontologists. The strata were laid down mostly during the Aptian age, about 113 million years ago. It thought to have been deposited in a semi-arid lacustrine wetland environment.
The Heptageniidae are a family of mayflies with over 500 described species mainly distributed in the Holarctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions, and also present in the Central American Tropics and extreme northern South America. The group is sometimes referred to as flat-headed mayflies or stream mayflies. These are generally rather small mayflies with three long tails. The wings are usually clear with prominent venation although species with variegated wings are known. As in most mayflies, the males have large compound eyes, but not divided into upper and lower parts.
The Berothidae are a family of winged insects of the order Neuroptera. They are known commonly as the beaded lacewings. The family was first named by Anton Handlirsch in 1906. The family consists of 24 genera and 110 living species distributed discontinuously worldwide, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. Numerous extinct species have also been described. Their ecology is poorly known, but in the species where larval stages have been documented, the larvae are predators of termites.
Nymphidae, sometimes called split-footed lacewings, are a family of winged insects of the order Neuroptera. There are 35 extant species native to Australia and New Guinea.
Heptagenia is a genus of flatheaded mayflies in the family Heptageniidae. There are at least 20 described species in Heptagenia.
Callibaetis is a genus of small minnow mayflies in the family Baetidae. There are at least 30 described species in Callibaetis.
Camelobaetidius is a genus of small minnow mayflies in the family Baetidae. There are at least 40 described species in Camelobaetidius.
Paracloeodes is a genus of small minnow mayflies in the family Baetidae. There are at least 20 described species in Paracloeodes.
Coxoplectoptera or "chimera wings" is an extinct order of stem-group mayflies containing one family, Mickoleitiidae.
Ephemerelloidea is a superfamily of mayflies in the suborder Pannota. It is a basal group of mayflies with a worldwide distribution. Members of this super-family can be distinguished from those of Caenoidea by the fact that the gills of the nymphs are not filamentous.
Caenoidea is a superfamily of mayflies in the suborder Pannota. Members of this superfamily can be distinguished from those of Ephemerelloidea by the fact that the gills of the nymphs are filamentous.
Baetiscidae is a family of mayflies. It contains a single extant genus, Baetisca, native to North America with around 12 species. The family is noted for their spined armoured larvae, which live in flowing water pools and on the edges of streams where they are detritivores, consuming fine particles of organic matter. Two other extinct genera are known, extending back to the Early Cretaceous. They are closely related to Prosopistomatidae which have unusual, beetle-like nymphs as well as the extinct genus Cretomitarcys, with the three groups constituting the clade Carapacea.
Homoeoneuria is a genus of brushleg mayflies in the family Oligoneuriidae. There are at least 5 described species in Homoeoneuria.
Isonychia is a genus of brushlegged mayflies in the family Isonychiidae, the sole genus of the family. There are more than 30 described species in Isonychia.
Siphlonurus is a genus of primitive minnow mayflies in the family Siphlonuridae. There are more than 40 described species in Siphlonurus.
Babinskaiidae is an extinct family of neuropterans known from the Cretaceous period. They are part of the superfamily Myrmeleontoidea. Their distinguishing characters include: "long filiform antennae, narrowly elongated wings, with features such as trichosors, and presectorial cross veins present in both wings, and absence of forewing oblique vein". They are considered transitional between Nymphidae and more derived myrmeleontodoids, such as antlions.
Zhangsolvidae is an extinct family of brachyceran flies known from the Cretaceous period. Members of the family possess a long proboscis, varying in length between 1.3 and 7 mm depending on the species, and were probably nectarivores. A specimen has been found with preserved Bennettitales pollen, suggesting that they acted as pollinators for extinct gymnosperms. They are considered to be members of the Stratiomyomorpha.
Elcanidae are an extinct family of Mesozoic and early Cenozoic orthopterans. Members of the family are distinguished by the presence of spurs on the distal part of the metatibia, unique among orthopterans, these have been suggested to have been used for controlling gliding, swimming aids, or for jumping on water. The group combines characteristics from both major groups of orthopterans, with long antennae and nymphal morphology similar to Ensifera, but with wing venation and adult morphology more similar to Caelifera. Elcanidae is part of Elcanoidea, which is thought to have diverged from living orthopterans by the beginning of the Permian, around 300 million years ago. The family also includes Permelcanidae, known from the Early-Late Permian. The relationship of Elcanoidea to Ensifera and Caelifera is currently unresolved. Elcanids are known from the Late Triassic to Paleocene of Eurasia, North and South America. Some members of the group exhibited aposematic coloration.
Teloganodidae is a family of mayflies belonging to Ephemerelloidea, native to the Afrotropical and Oriental realms.
