Mayflies

The order which contains the mayflies is Ephemeroptera. These small bodies, large winged insects are detritivores and herbivores: meaning that their preferred foods are either the decaying debris built up on the waters' edge or bits and pieces of shoreline vegetation. At the time of a hatch, clouds of mayflies emerge from the wetland and pond edges. Thousands upon thousands of mayflies may hatch during a single event. This occasion is of particular interest to the fish populations of the pond, for great quantities of mayflies are quickly consumed and converted from insect to fish flesh.