Arctic Mayfly vs South American Giant Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Mayfly | South American Giant Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Baetis bundyae | Campsurus major |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Baetidae | Polymitarcyidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 15-25 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, northern Scandinavia | South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Mayfly
A small, delicate mayfly with transparent wings and two long tail filaments. Nymphs are agile swimmers in cold Arctic streams. Adults emerge for a very brief mating flight during the short Arctic summer.
Did You Know?
Adult mayflies live only a few hours to a few days, just long enough to mate and lay eggs before dying.
South American Giant Mayfly
A large tropical mayfly found in South American rivers and floodplains. Males have distinctive elongated forelegs used for grasping females during mating flights.
Did You Know?
Its mass emergences from Amazonian rivers provide a critical food pulse for fish and birds.