mayfly

Everyday

A delicate insect with see-through wings and long tails that lives for years as a young nymph in water but, as a flying adult, often lives only a day or less. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons it is a famous example of a short adult life and a life cycle with nymphs; mayfly nymphs in a stream show that the water is clean. In stories and poems it stands for something that lasts a very short time. Phrases: mayfly nymph, as short-lived as a mayfly.

Examples

• The mayfly lives under water for a year but flies for only one day. tree →
• We found mayfly nymphs in the stream, so the water was clean. tree →
• Adult mayflies cannot eat because they have no working mouths. tree →
• Thousands of mayflies danced above the lake at sunset. tree →
• Trout love to eat mayflies. tree →
• Her interest in chess was like a mayfly: gone by the next day. tree →

Note

Plural mayflies (y becomes ies). Despite the name, mayflies are not only seen in May. Myth: they do not all live just 24 hours; some adults live a few minutes, others a couple of days.