Caddisflies can be distinguished from Mayflies by their wings, antennae and a lack of tails. Their wings are hairy, similar in size and held tent-like at rest. While their antennae tend to be more than half their body length. Alderflies and dobsonflies can be distinguished from Mayflies by a number of features.

The common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer (Plathemis lydia) is a common dragonfly across much of North America, with a striking and unusual appearance.

Dragonflies have a head, thorax and abdomen. The wings are attached to the top of the thorax and the legs to the bottom, so it can be seen that the thorax is tilted backwards. Thus the part between the head and the wing bases is the front. An insect thorax has three parts, each with a pair of legs.

Are Damselflies and Dragonflies the Same? These are not the same insects, but they are related. Both belong to the Odonata order, but dragonflies fall into the Anisoptera suborder, while damselflies belong to the Zygoptera suborder. Within these suborders there are more species of dragonfly than damselfly.

Mayflies are a vital link in the food web of freshwater ecosystems, making energy stored in algae and other aquatic plants available to higher consumers (other invertebrates, fish, birds, etc.).

In the north of England and most of Scotland the term mayfly is generally used for all species in the order Ephemeroptera. The common name comes from the habit of one species, Ephemera danica, which emerge as adults when the Mayflower or Hawthorn is in bloom.

Trout and other fish consume mayfly naiads as food. Mayfly naiads are also the food choice of birds, flies, frogs, parasitic roundworms, and water beetles. Caddisfly larvae and snails may eat the eggs of mayflies. Birds, dragonflies, fish, and water beetles eat mayflies that are in the early adult stage.

Mayflies are consumed in several cultures and are estimated to contain the most raw protein content of any edible insect by dry weight. In Malawi, kungu, a paste of mayflies (Caenis kungu) and mosquitoes is made into a cake for eating. Adult mayflies are collected and eaten in many parts of China and Japan.

Mayflies don’t bite. They don’t sting. They don’t have mouths, so they don’t even eat. They can live with that because they die in a day.

There are many things you can do around your structure to prevent Mayflies but the best way to control them is during the months when they hatch and are active, keep all outdoor lights turned off, and to block light inside, with curtains or shades.

– Mayflies do not bite, do not carry diseases and are considered harmless.

Antihistamine tablets or creams can help. Some people also experience relief by applying ice to the bite. Bites should never be scratched as this increases the chance of the wound becoming infected. Perhaps the best treatment is to avoid getting bitten in the first place.

Vinegar: Vinegar is a handy cleaning ingredient to have around the camper, and it’s also a great agent against bugs like sandflies.