Friend or foe on my California Wonder?

TexasTycoon · April 11, 2016

Can anyone help identify this critter that looks kinda like a dragonfly?

TexasTycoon · April 11, 2016

That stake on the left is a little thicker than pencil width, if that helps with scale.

Worth1 · April 11, 2016

Looks like a mayfly.
Harmless if it is.
Worth

heirloomtomaguy · April 11, 2016

I shoot and ask questions later. It cant ruin your plants if its dead. If its harmless then you killed a bug no biggie.

AlittleSalt · April 11, 2016

It does look like a Mayfly. You can find a lot of them around fresh water lakes, rivers, creeks, etc.

Worth1 · April 11, 2016

Don't kill it, it is a Mayfly.

They dont even eat after they are adults and never hurt plants in any way.

Worth

AlittleSalt · April 11, 2016

Here's from a link https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...lies+eat%3F%22

Hence they are known as detritivores as well as herbivores. Typically, they feed on algae, which they collect by grazing among stones and weeds. Some mayfly species have adaptations that allow them to eat small food particles and some of the larger species can be carnivorous and prey on other aquatic insects.

TexasTycoon · April 11, 2016

After googling, I agree that it's probably a little mayfly! Glad I didn't kill him. Makes sense since we live near a pond, I bet we'll see more around.

Thanks for the help!

heirloomtomaguy · April 11, 2016

Alright alright alright let it live its a mayfly and its good for lakes and rivers.

Worth1 · April 11, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by heirloomtomaguy

Alright alright alright let it live its a mayfly and its good for lakes and rivers.

Which goes in direct agreement to your statement at the end of each post if you think about it.
Sometimes the easy way isn't always best.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Dutch · April 11, 2016

If you give it a little nudge from behind with a tooth pick,
it may fly.

Dutch

AlittleSalt · April 11, 2016

Mayflies are actually a nuisance to fishermen. They like flying up to your face and eyes, land in your hair, and they really like Coleman lanterns. If you use a small Aberdeen fish hook or other thin hook - you can use them for bait to catch sunfish. (Sunfish are called by many names and cover a lot of varieties, but the ones I'm writing about are usually called, "Bluegill or Perch") I grew up calling them, "Perch" even though they look nothing like a real Perch.

The first picture is a Perch and the second is a Bluegill sunfish.

flyfiishn · April 12, 2016

Definitely a mayfly and not harmful at all. Probably a BWO or blue wing olive as we fly fishers call them. They're aquatic in nature and have to have water nearby, do you by chance live near a river or lake?

Cool bugs, their life span is pretty short, sometimes 24 hrs but they survive by sheer numbers.

Heres a giant mayfly called the Hexagenia Limbata. Trout go crazy for them and this makes me very happy when 20" + are gorging themselves on them.

Worth1 · April 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyfiishn

Definitely a mayfly and not harmful at all. Probably a BWO or blue wing olive as we fly fishers call them. They're aquatic in nature and have to have water nearby, do you by chance live near a river or lake?

Cool bugs, their life span is pretty short, sometimes 24 hrs but they survive by sheer numbers.

Heres a giant mayfly called the Hexagenia Limbata. Trout go crazy for them and this makes me very happy when 20" + are gorging themselves on them.

Yes Kelly said she lived near a pond.

Worth

TexasTycoon · April 12, 2016

(removed image for privacy)

April 11, 2016	#2
TexasTycoon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Round Rock, TX, Zone 8b Posts: 1,157	That stake on the left is a little thicker than pencil width, if that helps with scale. __________________ -Kelly "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn Bloom where you are planted.

April 11, 2016	#4
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I shoot and ask questions later. It cant ruin your plants if its dead. If its harmless then you killed a bug no biggie. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

April 11, 2016	#8
TexasTycoon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Round Rock, TX, Zone 8b Posts: 1,157	After googling, I agree that it's probably a little mayfly! Glad I didn't kill him. Makes sense since we live near a pond, I bet we'll see more around. Thanks for the help! __________________ -Kelly "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn Bloom where you are planted.

April 11, 2016	#9
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	Alright alright alright let it live its a mayfly and its good for lakes and rivers. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

April 11, 2016	#11
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	If you give it a little nudge from behind with a tooth pick, it may fly. Dutch __________________ "Discretion is the better part of valor" Charles Churchill The intuitive mind is a gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. But we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (paraphrased) Albert Einstein I come from a long line of sod busters, spanning back several centuries.

April 11, 2016	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Looks like a mayfly. Harmless if it is. Worth

April 11, 2016	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	It does look like a Mayfly. You can find a lot of them around fresh water lakes, rivers, creeks, etc.

April 11, 2016	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Don't kill it, it is a Mayfly. They dont even eat after they are adults and never hurt plants in any way. Worth

April 12, 2016	#13
flyfiishn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Northern CA Posts: 80	Definitely a mayfly and not harmful at all. Probably a BWO or blue wing olive as we fly fishers call them. They're aquatic in nature and have to have water nearby, do you by chance live near a river or lake? Cool bugs, their life span is pretty short, sometimes 24 hrs but they survive by sheer numbers. Heres a giant mayfly called the Hexagenia Limbata. Trout go crazy for them and this makes me very happy when 20" + are gorging themselves on them.

April 12, 2016	#15
TexasTycoon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Round Rock, TX, Zone 8b Posts: 1,157	(removed image for privacy) __________________ -Kelly "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn Bloom where you are planted. Last edited by TexasTycoon; April 12, 2016 at 03:05 PM.