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another photo for you…
Dear Bugman,
Not a dead fly, but an interesting ‘phenomenon’ we saw on the wall of our house… It seems that the fly has changed it’s skin (exoskeleton?) and is waiting for the new one to dry before flying off! No idea what it is but thought it may be good for your pages. I was wondering whether the wings are ‘renewed’ at the same time or not – but there seem to be shrivelled wings on the old ‘case’… Best wishes, keep up the good work…
Abdullah Eyles
Ceyhan, Turkey

Hi Abdullah,
Members of the order Ephemeroptera are known as Mayflies in the U.S. We don’t know if they have an equally descriptive name in Turkey. Larval Mayflies are aquatic, so you must have a water source, pond or fountain, in the very near vicinity. Mayflies have incomplete metamorphosis. The aquatic nymphs, or naiads, have no wings, and after the final molt, the winged adult emerges. Mayflies are short lived as adults and do not feed.

Related Posts

1. Mayfly and Exoskeleton (July 16, 2008)
2. Mayfly Metamorphosis (September 6, 2006)
3. Mayfly Naiad (July 19, 2006)
4. Mayfly (July 28, 2005)
5. Mayfly (March 17, 2009)