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Published: 2013-11-07 15:38:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 5287; Favourites: 232; Downloads: 99
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Description
Love the dorsal eye of the male mayfly. Taken at night in Singapore.Quote from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfly
The lifespan of an adult mayfly is very short and varies depending on the species. The primary function of the adult is reproduction; the mouthparts are vestigial, and the digestive system is filled with air.
The wings are membranous, with extensive venation, and are held upright like those of a butterfly. The hindwings are much smaller than the forewings, and may be vestigial or absent. The second segment of the thorax, which bears the forewings, is enlarged, holding the main flight muscles.
Adults have short, flexible antennae, large compound eyes and three ocelli. In most species, the males' eyes are large and the front legs unusually long, for use in locating and grasping females during mid-air mating. In some species, all legs aside from the males' front legs are useless. Uniquely among insects, mayflies possess paired genitalia, with the male having two penises and the female two gonopores. The abdomen is roughly cylindrical, with 10 segments and two long cerci at the tip.
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Comments: 44
raido-ehwaz [2013-12-08 22:42:00 +0000 UTC]
I've never seen a dorsal eye before! Is it just one eye or is it paired?
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Dunadan-from-Bag-End [2013-11-11 08:57:27 +0000 UTC]
What is this "mushroom" shape on their head? I've seen it in a caouple of especies of mayflies.
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melvynyeo In reply to Dunadan-from-Bag-End [2013-11-11 09:18:33 +0000 UTC]
Thats the dorsal eye, only the males have it... supposingly for looking up while searching for the females.
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Dunadan-from-Bag-End In reply to melvynyeo [2013-11-11 15:22:05 +0000 UTC]
Thanks for info!
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Bicnarok [2013-11-08 08:29:48 +0000 UTC]
Wow amazing photo, what's that on it's head, looks like a red hat.?
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melvynyeo In reply to Bicnarok [2013-11-08 12:23:00 +0000 UTC]
That is the dorsal eye of the male mayfly. They are sensitive to blue or ultraviolet light and specialized for looking at objects above it.
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Bicnarok In reply to melvynyeo [2013-11-08 15:06:02 +0000 UTC]
Well you learn something new every day, thanx.
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melvynyeo In reply to Wumzie [2013-11-08 06:05:56 +0000 UTC]
Yes we have... but they are rather small, this one is about 5mm long
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melvynyeo In reply to Wumzie [2013-11-08 12:27:55 +0000 UTC]
And they like to rest under the leaves... So i guess they are seldom seen locally. Some Malaysia species are giant in comparsion. This one is about 1 inch ++ long.
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