Ephemeroptera
- noun
- /ɪˌfɛmərˈɒptərə/
- Specialized
- The lifecycle of a mayfly, classified under the order Ephemeroptera, includes a brief adult stage, lasting only a few hours to a couple of days.
Examples
-
By reducing the interstitial spaces, habitat availability is reduced, resulting in decreased diversity and abundance of benthic invertebrates, especially Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera.
Academic text (2000) -
Mayflies, which belong to the order Ephemeroptera, are known for their short adult lifespans and delicate bodies.
-
Ecologists often study Ephemeroptera to assess the health of aquatic ecosystems due to their sensitivity to pollution.
Synonyms
A small insect with thin wings that lives only a short time as an adult
A small insect with thin wings whose young live in water and adults live less than two days
A group of insects like mayflies with thin transparent wings and young that live in water
A group of insects like mayflies whose young live in water and adults live only a short time
A former name for the group of insects known as mayflies
Compounds
- Specialized
A group of insects like mayflies with thin transparent wings and young that live in water
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word Ephemeroptera comes from the parts ephemer- meaning 'lasting a day', like the word ephemeral, and -ptera meaning 'wing', like pterodactyl. So Ephemeroptera means 'day-winged' insects, which fits mayflies because the adults live for a very short time.