Male mayfly on hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) flowers. This mayfly (order Ephemeroptera) is in its second (reproductive) stage, the imago, of two fly

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Male mayfly on hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) flowers. This mayfly (order Ephemeroptera) is in its second (reproductive) stage, the imago, of two flying stages. Long front legs (left) are used to catch the female from within a mating swarm. The male has larger eyes and longer front legs than the female mayfly (see images C001/0508 and C001/0509). Also seen are two pairs of wings and three tails. During this adult stage, mayflies only have a vestigial mouth and they do not eat. Most live only for a day or two and die soon after mating.

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Size: 4961px × 3721px
Photo credit: © ADRIAN BICKER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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