Subject: I found a weird googly eyed bug
Location: Tangent, Oregon, United states
August 7, 2016 3:34 pm
I was at a park and found this strange bug with 4 legs and big white googly eyes I can’t find any info anywhere can you help me identify it please? it was awfully cute!
Signature: Jessica
Dear Jessica,
This is a Mayfly in the order Ephemeroptera.
Mayflies are organisms of venerable antiquity. The order goes back to the late Carboniferous (300 million years ago), and they or something very like them were probably the first flying animals. It’s ironic that insects with famously short lives belong to a group that has hung around so long.
Wow. Thanks for the Mayfly trivia.