Ephemeridae

Taxobox
name = Ephemeridae

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Ephemera danica"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Ephemeroptera
subordo = Schistonota
superfamilia = Ephemeroidea
familia = Ephemeridae
subdivision_ranks = Genera include
subdivision ="Ephemera"
"Hexagenia"
"Litobrancha"
"Pentagenia"

Ephemeridae is a family of mayflies with about 150 described species found throughout the world except Australia and Oceania. These are generally quite large mayflies (up to 35 mm) with either two or three very long tails. Many species have distinctively patterned wings.

Ephemerids breed in a wide range of waters, usually requiring a layer of silt as the nymphs have strong legs which are adapted for burrowing (the group is sometimes known as burrowing mayflies). The nymphs are largely carnivorous and collect their food either through predation or scavenging.

References

*Chinery, Michael "Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe" 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
*McGavin, George C. "Insects and Spiders" 2004
* [http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=11230 Fauna Europaea]
* [http://www.nearctica.com/nomina/oddbugs/epheml.htm#anchor138385 Nomina Insecta Nearctica]