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Ephemeroptera
About 24mm long. Long segmented abdomen with even longer 'cercii' or 'tails'. Thorax area is difficult to recognise.
Resting under shade on a log cabin in a local nature reserve.
Nymphal stage ? Was this the final molt?
"The name Ephemeroptera is partly derived from the Greek word Ephemeros, which means 'short-lived', an apt description for Mayflies. As adults, they survive for no more than a day or two, some as little as thirty minutes, their sole purpose being to mate. It's a literal case of 'here today, gone tomorrow'. " - Nick Monaghan
Distribution in Australia... http://spatial.ala.org.au/?q=lsid:%22urn...
Spotted on Feb 3, 2014
Submitted on Feb 4, 2014
3 Comments
Hey thanks Martin. I didn't think it was vacated but didn't poke it after the photo session. Maybe it was an exuvia. That would explain why the thorax area is indecipherable. That's really interesting about the extra moult for mayflies. I'll check it all later. Thanks again.
This certainly looks like an exuvia of a mayfly.
Damselflies have three cerci that function as gills.
Mayflies have two or three. They are the only insect that has an additional molt as a winged adult!
http://www.dpughphoto.com/other_insects....
That's pretty neat!