Olive-winged Drake Mayfly

Description:

Adult giant mayflies can grow to 8.7 to 27.3 mm in length. Like all adult mayflies, they are soft-bodied, with large forewings and a smaller pair of hindwings, which are held together above their body when they are at rest. Two hairlike tails come out from the end of their abdomen and they have small antennae.

Habitat:

Marshland Park

Notes:

Interesting Facts: Swarms of giant mayflies and other Hexagenia species can be huge and are often annoying to communities. Swarms were a problem particularly in the 1950s in the Lake Erie region and as populations have returned in that region, they are again causing problems. Since mayflies are attracted to lights, large groups often collect at street lights, causing power outages when swarms collect at illuminated power transformers. Dead bodies of mayflies can also quickly pile up.