Mayflies: Ephemeroptera - Habitat

The larvae live in a wide variety of freshwater habitats, from swift mountain streams to lowland rivers, ponds, and lakes. Many live under rocks, logs, and other debris (duh-BREE). Some species burrow in living or decaying plant tissues or in the soft, muddy bottoms of rivers and lakes. Others swim freely in small ponds or in small springs and seeps, pools where water has oozed to the ground surface. Most species are sensitive to pollution, or poison, waste, or other material that makes the environment dirty and harmful to health. Some are tolerant of small levels of contamination in the form of plant debris, animal waste, and muddy water. Adults are weak fliers and usually stay very close to the body of water where they grew up.