Insect larvae in water. Seen here are: Mayfly nymphs (order Ephemeroptera), black fly nymph (order Diptera, centre) and a caddisfly nymph (order Trich

---

Insect larvae in water. Seen here are: Mayfly nymphs (order Ephemeroptera), black fly nymph (order Diptera, centre) and a caddisfly nymph (order Trichoptera, lower right). The mayfly nymphs have flat bodies and strong legs with hooks on the end, which prevent them from being washed away. Pairs of undeveloped wing cases are located on the top of the thorax. There are seven pairs of gills used for respiration on the side of the abdomen. The three tails (known as cerci), attached to the end of the abdomen are sensory organs that are also used as weapons.

---

Size: 4368px × 2912px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, animals, antennae, aquatic, biological, biology, black, black-fly, caddisfly, cases, cerci, cercus, compound, crowfoot, developing, development, entomology, ephemeroptera, eyes, fauna, fly, insect, insecta, insects, invertebrate, invertebrates, larva, larvae, mayflies, mayfly, metamorphosis, nature, nymph, nymphs, ranunculus, segment, segmented, segments, sp., stage, stages, thorax, undeveloped, water, wildlife, wing, young, zoological, zoology