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Mayfly: meaning, definitions and examples

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mayfly

 

[ ˈmeɪflaɪ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

insect life

A mayfly is an aquatic insect belonging to the order Ephemeroptera. They are known for their short adult lifespan, typically ranging from a few hours to a few days, which is why they are often associated with the brevity of life. Mayflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, with life stages that include egg, nymph, and adult.

Synonyms

dayfly, ephemerid

Examples of usage

  • Mayflies are often seen swarming near rivers in summer.
  • The nymphs of mayflies are crucial for the health of aquatic ecosystems.
  • Fishermen often use mayfly imitations when trying to catch trout.
  • Mayflies are a key food source for many fish species.

Translations

Translations of the word "mayfly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mayfly

🇮🇳 मयफ्लाई

🇩🇪 Eintagsfliegen

🇮🇩 serangga mayfly

🇺🇦 великокрилька

🇵🇱 ważka

🇯🇵 ハネカクシ

🇫🇷 éphémère

🇪🇸 efímera

🇹🇷 mayfly

🇰🇷 일일파리

🇸🇦 ذباب اليوم الواحد

🇨🇿 jepice

🇸🇰 jepica

🇨🇳 蜉蝣

🇸🇮 krapica

🇮🇸 mýfluga

🇰🇿 күн көбелегі

🇬🇪 დღიური ფუტკარი

🇦🇿 bir günlüq milçək

🇲🇽 efímera

Etymology

The name 'mayfly' derives from 'May', the month when they typically emerge, and 'fly', indicating their classification as insects. These insects belong to the order Ephemeroptera, which reflects their short lifespan, as 'ephemeros' means 'short-lived' in Greek. The history of mayflies is long and complex, with fossil evidence showing they have existed for at least 300 million years, making them one of the oldest groups of insects known to science. Their unique life cycle, which includes aquatic nymph stages, has made them important indicators of freshwater ecosystem health, and their emergence has significant ecological impacts, particularly in freshwater food webs.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,207, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.