Stats

Lifespan

1-2 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Filter feeder

Activity

Crepuscular

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Burrowing

Status

Uncommon

About

This large insect lives near lakes and slow rivers across North America. Adults live for only two days and do not possess functional mouths to eat.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Ephemeroptera

Family

Ephemeridae

Genus

Hexagenia

Species

Hexagenia limbata