Section 2: Lakefly Invertebrate Identification
Estimated Time For Lesson: 3 minutes
ID Notes
Prong-gilled mayflies are better adapted to crawling on stones of submerged vegetation.
They tend to swim with slow, graceful, undulating movements. This motion is more gentle and less darting compared to other mayflies, like olives.
They have 3 pairs of visible legs
3 tails, splayed out at rest, and are roughly symmetrical
They have pronged gills strap-like, lobed at the base or branched
Tails can be broken off partially or entirely, so check carefully how many there are.
They can be found in slow moving water on stones and plants.
They feed on dead organic matter.
Photos Credit: Dr Cyril Bennett MBE