To answer the question about mortality rate: these mayflies were reared in our laboratory. Under controlled conditions with proper feeding and a lack of predators, we get a survival rate of more than 90%. In the wild, the survival rate would certainly be much lower.
My guess is because they naturally don't eat once they become an adult because the urge to mate overpowers the need for food. Not eating/ having a food supply after all that energy used up leads to exhaustion. Having underdeveloped mouth parts doesn't help in the slightest... plus I think it's only the adults that live for 24 hours, developing nymphs take a year or 2 to grow if I remember right.
Are you an idiot? I know it was a year ago, but that’s not how long they live…google it if you can rub two brain cells together long enough to make a spark.
The common statement that they only live for twenty four hours , should be clarified that being after they emerge and begin flight . Not from hatch to spinners death.
I need to ask questions 7 years after this video was uploaded... How do they develop so fast inside the eggs? It must've been just a few hours ago since the eggs were fertilized. Maybe a few days though... depending on the mayfly species right? Is there any other animal that lays eggs that hatch seconds after being laid? How is it possible that some mayflies moult just minutes after they turned from the nymph into the subimago? Is there something actually developing while being in the subimago stage, or is it more like shedding two skins off instead of two actual moults? I know that some species are in the subimago stage for a few days. But some only for a few minutes. 1. Why is there a subimago stage that is barely different from the imago stage? 2. How is it possible that a subimago insect changes in a few minutes? 3. Same for the eggs. How. So. Fast. 4. Just how is everything able to happen so fast when it comes to mayflies?!??!!?
Most mayfly adults lay their eggs immediately after mating, after which the eggs take anywhere from ten days to many months to hatch. The mayfly in this video, Cloeon cognatum, is an exception because it is ovoviviparous, which means that a mated female holds her eggs internally until embryonic development is complete (about 18 days). She then lays up to 2,300 eggs, which begin to hatch as soon as they hit the water.
@@StroudCenter Thank you so much for your reply! I didn't know Ovoviviparity was a thing in the insect world as well! Thanks so much! Can you tell me how it's possible that some mayfly specise moult a few minutes after their subimago moult? What's happening during the few minutes as an subimago? Is there acutally something developing or is it like shedding two skins with a short break in between?
@@00Hendrik00 Here's an answer straight from Stroud Water Research Center Entomologist David Funk, the videographer of this video: "Mayflies are the only insects that molt again after attaining fully functional wings. The best explanation for why subimago mayflies molt again is that there is a limited amount of increase in size or length that can be achieved in a functional appendage (such as a leg) in a single molt. Male imagos especially need to lengthen their fore legs (which they use to grasp females during copulation) a great deal over that possessed by the nymph. In some species that have extremely short-lived adults (less than an hour), molting to the imago very quickly after their last nymphal molt, it is only the males that make this molt; female nymphs molt at the water surface, take flight and never alight --they mate and lay eggs as a subimagos."
You're right that most species of mayflies do have a very short adult span! Most of their life cycle is spent in the nymph stage, which can last up to two years.
Is this Mayfly a member of the Baetidae family, similar to what fly fishers call the blue winged olive? Is it common in Pennsylvania, and is it multi-brooding?
+Keith C Yes, this species is in the Baetidae family. It is not native to North America, but probably came over on ships in the mid 20th century. This species is now very common in northeast North America, especially in fishless ponds.
You commented below that these were Baetids. Even late instar Baetids are tiny and there is no scale bar in this video that I see. How big are the individuals in this video?
Yes, this species is in the Baetidae family. It is not native to North America, but probably came over on ships in the mid 20th century. This species (Cloeon cognatum, aka dipterum) is now very common in northeastern North America, especially in fishless ponds. The nymphs feed mainly on fine particulate matter.
Thanks for your question. Mayflies live very briefly in the adult stage but spend months or even years in the nymphal stage. So these hatchlings have plenty of time to grow!
The lifespan of adult mayflies is very short but it varies by species, from just a few hours to a few days. They lack functional mouth parts and so cannot eat.
Michelle, what you are watching is the birthing process of a Mayfly. They exist in any freshwater pond, lake, stream or river that supports fish. These are what fish, like trout etc, eat. This is part of natures process. Nature produces billions of them to support the web of life. As long as there are these insects in our streams we can expect fish in the streams. If we kill off the Mayfly's predators there would be no fish.
Thanks for your comment. The mayfly in the video is Cloeon cognatum, aka dipterum. It is not native to North America, but probably came over on ships in the mid 20th century. This species is now very common in northeastern North America, especially in fishless ponds.
To answer the question about mortality rate: these mayflies were reared in our laboratory. Under controlled conditions with proper feeding and a lack of predators, we get a survival rate of more than 90%. In the wild, the survival rate would certainly be much lower.
Stroud Water Research Center Videos is there a reason, opposite of predators, that they only live 24hrs?
My guess is because they naturally don't eat once they become an adult because the urge to mate overpowers the need for food. Not eating/ having a food supply after all that energy used up leads to exhaustion. Having underdeveloped mouth parts doesn't help in the slightest...
plus I think it's only the adults that live for 24 hours, developing nymphs take a year or 2 to grow if I remember right.
Are you an idiot? I know it was a year ago, but that’s not how long they live…google it if you can rub two brain cells together long enough to make a spark.
The common statement that they only live for twenty four hours , should be clarified that being after they emerge and begin flight . Not from hatch to spinners death.
i thought the title was mayfly lays eggs a minute after being laid
Thanks, STROUD! Very nice!
I need to ask questions 7 years after this video was uploaded...
How do they develop so fast inside the eggs? It must've been just a few hours ago since the eggs were fertilized. Maybe a few days though... depending on the mayfly species right?
Is there any other animal that lays eggs that hatch seconds after being laid?
How is it possible that some mayflies moult just minutes after they turned from the nymph into the subimago? Is there something actually developing while being in the subimago stage, or is it more like shedding two skins off instead of two actual moults?
I know that some species are in the subimago stage for a few days. But some only for a few minutes.
1. Why is there a subimago stage that is barely different from the imago stage?
2. How is it possible that a subimago insect changes in a few minutes?
3. Same for the eggs. How. So. Fast.
4. Just how is everything able to happen so fast when it comes to mayflies?!??!!?
Most mayfly adults lay their eggs immediately after mating, after which the eggs take anywhere from ten days to many months to hatch. The mayfly in this video, Cloeon cognatum, is an exception because it is ovoviviparous, which means that a mated female holds her eggs internally until embryonic development is complete (about 18 days). She then lays up to 2,300 eggs, which begin to hatch as soon as they hit the water.
@@StroudCenter Thank you so much for your reply! I didn't know Ovoviviparity was a thing in the insect world as well!
Thanks so much!
Can you tell me how it's possible that some mayfly specise moult a few minutes after their subimago moult? What's happening during the few minutes as an subimago? Is there acutally something developing or is it like shedding two skins with a short break in between?
@@00Hendrik00 Here's an answer straight from Stroud Water Research Center Entomologist David Funk, the videographer of this video: "Mayflies are the only insects that molt again after attaining fully functional wings. The best explanation for why subimago mayflies molt again is that there is a limited amount of increase in size or length that can be achieved in a functional appendage (such as a leg) in a single molt. Male imagos especially need to lengthen their fore legs (which they use to grasp females during copulation) a great deal over that possessed by the nymph. In some species that have extremely short-lived adults (less than an hour), molting to the imago very quickly after their last nymphal molt, it is only the males that make this molt; female nymphs molt at the water surface, take flight and never alight --they mate and lay eggs as a subimagos."
@@StroudCenter
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions! ❤
@@00Hendrik00 You're very welcome! You might be interested in some of the macroinvertebrate resources on our website: stroudcenter.org/macros/
I'm a flyfisher and have never seen anything this ............amazing !!
Are those actually eggs? Or are they in their first “emerger” stage in some sort of water activated husk? Amazing to see this!
Hi there! They are actually eggs that hatch that quickly.
Makes sense they hatch so soon since their lifespan is like 24 hours
You're right that most species of mayflies do have a very short adult span! Most of their life cycle is spent in the nymph stage, which can last up to two years.
Awww, she got to be with her children as she passed! Mission accomplished
Is this Mayfly a member of the Baetidae family, similar to what fly fishers call the blue winged olive? Is it common in Pennsylvania, and is it multi-brooding?
+Keith C Yes, this species is in the Baetidae family. It is not native to North America, but probably came over on ships in the mid 20th century. This species is now very common in northeast North America, especially in fishless ponds.
Cual seria su principal Característica morfológica?
hate to be the dad.....all that child support lol
scott walker you only pay child support if you are divorced
scott walker LOL 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Lol
Dont worry, they only have to pay for less than 24 hours, then they die and dont have to pay
Hey he only lives for 24 hours the kids can take his life insurance
Wow! Absolutely amazing! Must be thousands of them.
@@Sabm38they don’t need to know there children they know they have children and that’s it
You commented below that these were Baetids. Even late instar Baetids are tiny and there is no scale bar in this video that I see. How big are the individuals in this video?
Individuals???
How much is in there
Cant believe that 1 mayfly can give birth to ten million mayflies
Is this a baetidae? What’s their nymphs diet?
Yes, this species is in the Baetidae family. It is not native to North America, but probably came over on ships in the mid 20th century. This species (Cloeon cognatum, aka dipterum) is now very common in northeastern North America, especially in fishless ponds. The nymphs feed mainly on fine particulate matter.
@@StroudCenter thank u so much for the info!
Sweet footage !
Fascinating
Wow, talk about water breaking from a pregnancy ...
We all need water to be born and live. It's fascinating.
But they live for 24 hours do how are they going to grow
Thanks for your question. Mayflies live very briefly in the adult stage but spend months or even years in the nymphal stage. So these hatchlings have plenty of time to grow!
shouldnt it be dead in a day?
The lifespan of adult mayflies is very short but it varies by species, from just a few hours to a few days. They lack functional mouth parts and so cannot eat.
Wow exactly 1 minute
😋😍😍😍 thank you for uploading
Thats mad, they just pop out!! haha
disgusting - which of their predators have we killed off and how do we get them back?
Half of the comments here say, "wow" and "amazing". Your comment says, "disgusting"...
Open your mind.
Michelle, what you are watching is the birthing process of a Mayfly. They exist in any freshwater pond, lake, stream or river that supports fish. These are what fish, like trout etc, eat. This is part of natures process. Nature produces billions of them to support the web of life. As long as there are these insects in our streams we can expect fish in the streams. If we kill off the Mayfly's predators there would be no fish.
Simple mind
they don't all ''make it'' birds especially swallows feed on these trout bats bass bluegills kingbirds ,this is a feast for many species
Child Birth isn’t all that “clean” is it?
WELL GUESS I NEVER NEEDED TO SLEEP EVER AGAIN.
Now that's effeciency
wonderful to behold.
Wow..pretty amazing !!! :)
weird
Why is it weird?
Jacqueline- I can only imagine that everything seems weird to you. Am I right?
Wow!
Hi Mom.
Bye Mom.
Thats a Dolania Amerricana
Thanks for your comment. The mayfly in the video is Cloeon cognatum, aka dipterum. It is not native to North America, but probably came over on ships in the mid 20th century. This species is now very common in northeastern North America, especially in fishless ponds.
@@StroudCenter interesting
Boring