| Common Name |
Flatheaded Mayfly |
| Phylum |
Arthropoda |
| Class |
Insecta |
| Order |
Ephemeroptera |
| Family |
Heptageniidae |
| Description |
5-20mm, not including antennae and tails. Their body and legs are distinctly flattened. Their gills are thin, flat disks that are round/oval and never have forks or pointed filaments. The gills have fine filaments visible ventrally, where the gills attach to the body. For more photos, refer to our online gallery: tinyurl.com/uvrj3x8 |
| Habitat |
Primarily lotic-erosional, some lentic-erosional. Can be found in all sizes of flowing waters from brooks to large rivers. Larvae are most common on anchored substrate such as large stones and water-soaked wood. |
| Feeding Information |
Primarily scrapers, also collector-gatherers. Their flat head shields their mouthparts, allowing them to scrape food from substrate before it's swept away. |
| Water Quality Tolerance |
Chiefly somewhat sensitive, others very sensitive to facultative. |
| References |
Voshell & Wright. 2002. |
