02 January 2016

Mayfly

A few mayflies have been appearing lately, and I always enjoy the sight. They seem strange and ancient (and they are — they're the most primitive winged insects), and, close up, they remind me of something mechanical, like machines from a science fiction film.

I found this one, a female in the first of its two adult stages (mayflies are the only insects to have two adult stages), on the wall of the house this morning. (I've rotated the photograph 90° counter-clockwise.)



All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

5 comments:

Relatively Retiring said...

That is so beautiful.
Happy New(ish)Year.

Zhoen said...

Beautiful, an assortment of parts stuck together in an assemblage.

pohanginapete said...

RR, so many insects and other tiny creatures are beautiful, or at least fascinating, and it's a good feeling being able to spread the good word. And a Happy New Year to you, too :-)

Zhoen, it does look like that. Nicely put.

Avus said...

Wow! What a shot and well noticed, Pete. Many would have just passed it by. I like the analogy of parts of a machine.

pohanginapete said...

Thanks Avus. Happy New Year :-)