American Sand Mayfly vs Barred Red Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	American Sand Mayfly	Barred Red Moth
Scientific Name	Dolania americana	Hylaea fasciaria
Order	Ephemeroptera	Lepidoptera
Family	Behningiidae	Geometridae
Size	10-15 mm body	30-36 mm wingspan
Habitat	Rivers & Streams	Forests
Diet	Omnivores	Omnivores
Regions	North America	Europe, Northern Asia
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

American Sand Mayfly

Holds the record for the shortest adult lifespan of any insect — females live less than five minutes as adults, just long enough to mate and lay eggs before dying.

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Did You Know?

Female Dolania americana mayflies live less than five minutes as adults — they emerge, mate, lay eggs, and die faster than most people take a coffee break.

Barred Red Moth

A reddish-brown moth with a broad darker band across the forewings. It is closely associated with coniferous forests throughout its range.

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Did You Know?

A green form of this species exists and was once considered a separate species.