Baetidae

Baetidae
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Cloeon dipterum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Ephemeroptera
Suborder:	Schistonota
Superfamily:	Baetoidea
Family:	Baetidae
Genera
Acentrella Acerpenna Americabaetis Apobaetis Baetis Baetodes Baetopus Barbaetis Callibaetis Camelobaetidius Centroptilum Cloeodes Cloeon Diphetor Fallceon Heterocloeon Labiobaetis Paracloeodes Parakari Procloeon Pseudocentroptiloides

Baetidae is a family of mayflies with about 900 described species distributed worldwide. These are among the smallest of mayflies, adults rarely exceeding 10 mm in length excluding the two long slender tails and sometimes much smaller, and members of the family are often referred to as small mayflies or small minnow mayflies. Most species have long oval forewings with very few cross veins (see Comstock-Needham system) but the hindwings are usually very small or even absent. The males often have very large eyes, shaped like turrets above the head (this is known as "turbinate condition").

File:Mayfly ecdysis.jpg

A baetid mayfly emerging from its exuvia

Baetids breed in a wide range of waters from lakes and streams to ditches and even water butts. The nymphs are strong swimmers and feed mainly on algae.

References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• McGavin, George C. Insects and Spiders 2004
• Fauna Europaea
• Nomina Insecta Nearctica