This Insect Lives For Only A Day

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Mayflies are aquatic insects known for having the shortest lifespans of any creature in the animal kingdom

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Their lifespans typically range from a few minutes to a maximum of 24 hours

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Their life cycle consists of three stages: Nymph, Subimago and Imago (Adult)

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Mayflies spend most of their lives in water as nymphs. They live as aquatic larvae for about a year or maybe more and as soon as they reproduce, they die

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During their brief adult life, Mayflies focus on mating and laying eggs, ensuring the continuation of their species

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Why do they die so soon? The adult mayflies lack functional mouthparts and thus are unable to eat. Their digestive systems are filled with air

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That's the reason they cannot survive for longer durations and have short lifespan

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Though Nymphs store energy for adult life, it's quickly exhausted. Adult mayflies direct all their energy towards mating and egg-laying

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In their short lives, mayflies also serve a critical purpose for researchers in determining the health of aquatic ecosystems

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The presence of mayfly larvae indicates that the water is clean, unpolluted, and highly oxygenated

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