Mayfly In Amber

The order Ephemeroptera comprise mayflies. Mayflies have two or three long caudal filaments, short antennae and large compound eyes. The wings have many cross-veins. Many mayflies families have been recorded in amber, although they are rare. This is due to the fact that they do not live long (a couple of hours to several days) and do not venture far from the pond or river breeding grounds.

On the transition from nymph to adult stage, they fly from the surface of the water for mating, but do not feed. They complete their mating process and die soon after. Mayfly eggs are laid in water, and are hatched within one or two weeks. Nymphs develop for a year or more in water, molting more than 20 times before they become an adult. There is a series of plumose gills on both sides of the abdomen, moving from time to time to absorb oxygen from the water. Mayfly nymphs, in fact, spend more time in water, and are the main theme of the mayflies' lives. We usually think that the adult form is the main stage of the insects, but this does not apply to mayflies.

 

 

 

 

This particular mayfly looks like he posed before he became entombed in his graveyard of sticky resin. Most probably this animal in is the family Baetidae.

 

 

 

 


This link contains a scanned image so you can see the full size of this animal. Here is an actual picture (impressive.)

The price of this rare specimen is $900

 

$900
SOLD