Often seen in great swarms above pools and lakes in the early evenings, Mayflies have a number of different life stages.

The longest stage is the aquatic nymph form, which has 15-30 growth periods. About 12mm in length, they live on shredded plant material, and can be distinguished by their three 'tails'.

Adults grow to 15mm in length, with two pairs of transparent wings - the forewings being larger than the hindwings. They do not feed, and live for a very short time - existing purely for reproduction.

Mayflies copulate during flight. The female then drops down to the water and deposits the eggs, either in a mass or attached to a submerged object.