Insect identifier · Often confused insects
How to identify a Mayfly
Ephemeroptera
· Also called fish fly, shadfly, dayfly
People search “mayfly” because it looks like something that bites. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) does not bite or sting people. Also called fish fly, shadfly, dayfly.
A cloud of delicate insects at a cabin light, with long tails, is a mayfly hatch.
What does a mayfly look like?
Mayfly is Small to medium, often with two or three long tails. Colors: brown, gray, tan. Marks: Two or three long thread tails; Wings held upright; No biting beak; Swarms at lights near water.
Mayfly is Small to medium, often with two or three long tails. Colors: brown, gray, tan. Marks: Two or three long thread tails; Wings held upright; No biting beak; Swarms at lights near water.
Identification marks
- Two or three long thread tails
- Wings held upright
- No biting beak
- Swarms at lights near water
Size: Small to medium, often with two or three long tails
Colors: brown, gray, tan
Where: outdoor
Mayfly vs Crane fly
Mayfly: tails and upright wings, no bite. Mosquito: beak, hum, welt.
- Crane fly identification (Tipula spp.)
- Caddisfly identification (Trichoptera)
- Northern house mosquito identification (Culex pipiens)
- Green lacewing identification (Chrysoperla spp.)
Range and season
Active late spring and summer hatches. Places: water, lake, yard. Hatch in swarms near clean lakes and rivers. Adults live briefly and do not bite.
Lake and river towns during a hatch.
Hatch in swarms near clean lakes and rivers. Adults live briefly and do not bite.
Late spring and summer hatches
Common questions
Do mayflies bite?
No.
Mayfly vs mosquito?
Mayflies have long tails and upright wings. They do not hum or bite.