mayfly, (order Ephemeroptera), any member of a group of insects known for their extremely short life spans and emergence in large numbers in the summer months. Other common names for the winged stages are shadfly, sandfly, dayfly, fishfly, and drake.

What type of animal is a mayfly?

What type of animal is a mayfly? The mayfly is an aquatic insect. They are known as shadflies or lake flies and there are over 3000 recognized species of mayfly around the world.

Is a mayfly a butterfly?

Mayfly Appearance and Behavior

The mayfly's wings are similar to butterfly wings in how they are attached to the insect's thorax. The mayfly's larger wings are at the front of the body and with small round wings behind.