Emerging Mayfly climbing stem
Emerging Mayfly climbing stem
Mayflies are aquatic insects, the naiads or nymphs live on the bottoms of rivers. Thy are unusual in that they have 2 adult stages in their lifecycle. When the time comes the nymphs moult into winged intermediate adult stage (called a subimago) and emerge from the water, often by climbing using the stems of aquatic plants as in this image. They then undergo a final moult into the breeding adult (or imago). There are 51 species of mayfly found in the British Isles, and over 3,000 worldwide. I'm not exactly sure which species this one is; it could be the March brown mayfly (Rhithrogena germanica, famous for copies being one of the most popular artificial flies used for fly fishing) or the similar and more widespread late March brown or false March brown (Ecdyonurus venosus).
James Brunker
Image size: 3840 x 5760, 13.26Mb | Camera details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Date uploaded: 08/04/2021
- mayfly, insect
- mayflies, wildlife
- nature, natural
- macro, close up, closeup
- shadfly, fishfly, shadflies, fishflies
- emerging, climbing stalk, aquatic plant
- english fauna, fly fishing
- summer, summertime, spring, springtime
- canvas print, coffee mug, mouse mat, acrylic print
- March brown, Rhithrogena germanica, Ecdyonurus venosus, subimago