Ephemeral-adult

Guides

• Hexagenia rigida

  Great Olive-winged Drake

  Hexagenia rigida is a burrowing mayfly (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae) native to North America. As a member of the common burrower mayfly genus, it spends most of its life as an aquatic nymph in lake and reservoir sediments, with adults emerging synchronously in large swarms. The species has a multi-year life cycle, typically requiring 3-4 years to complete development from egg to adult in northern climates. Laboratory studies indicate that larval growth and mortality are significantly influenced by food availability and density, with food limitation increasing size variation and mortality rates.

  mayflyburrowing-mayflyaquatic-insectbioindicatorfisheriesephemeral-adultsynchronous-emergenceGreat-Lakesreservoir-ecologyheavy-metal-bioaccumulation-model