Palingeniidae Explained

Palingeniidae is a family of mayflies, members of which are known as spiny-headed burrowing mayflies. These are generally quite large mayflies with more than four longitudinal cross-veins on their wings. Males have short, wide pronotums and the legs are well-developed in both sexes. The cerci (tails) on females are shorter than the body. The nymphs live burrowed in the mud at the bottom of large streams and rivers.[1]

One of the best known members of the family is Palingenia longicauda, the Tisza mayfly after the European Tisza river, also known as the long-tailed mayfly and giant mayfly. It is the largest mayfly species in Europe, measuring 12cm (05inches) from head to tail.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Robinson, William H. . Urban Insects and Arachnids: A Handbook of Urban Entomology . 2005 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-139-44347-0 . 192 .
  2. Web site: Wild Serbia: The Tisa Mayfly (Palingenia longicauda. www.wild-serbia.com. 2011-07-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718051638/http://www.wild-serbia.com/Tisa_mayfly.html. dead.