Order: Ephemeroptera We see Mayflies in June during Science Camp, the kids enjoy catching them. This one must be a female, judging by the size of the abdomen. After mating, the females lay their eggs in lakes and streams, they live only one day as an adult. The mayfly nymphs live in the water for up to a year. The following summer they emerge, mate, lay eggs and then die.
This handsome metallic green male damselfly gave me quite a hard time to get this picture. I was trying out my new camera (in 2004) at the UT Arboretum when I spotted him. He would flit from leaf to leaf as I tried to focus the camera. He gave me a greater appreciation for wildlife photographers! They are actually black, but these beautiful damselflies can look blue, green or black depending on the angle of the sun's light.
mating (in the "wheel position") while I visited Big Ridge State Park on the hottest day of the year in August 2007. The female has the white spots on her wings.
