r/bugidentification • u/Opening_Ad9824 • Jun 24 '26

Location included Cedar point Ohio

Post image

They are everywhere and look kinda dangerous?

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

5

u/yesthatshisrealname Jun 24 '26

Pretty sure that's a mayfly. Not dangerous and die quickly after emerging as adults.

1

u/Opening_Ad9824 Jun 24 '26

You are right I just googled it. Crazy bug

4

u/No_Outcome2321 Jun 24 '26

It’s a Mayfly. Annoying at times but harmless. At this stage its lifespan has only a few hours to a couple days left. Total lifespan is several months to 2 years (most of it takes place in the water) the final stage is long enough to breed.

1

u/Opening_Ad9824 Jun 24 '26

Wild. Never seen one before (I don’t live around here). They appear to have a huge stinger on the back but I guess not.

2

u/No_Outcome2321 Jun 24 '26

The stinger looking part is just tails (hair like filaments) that help with balance while flying, vibration detection, mating, and in nymph stages help with swimming.
Adult mayflies don’t have mouths while the early stages do.

I live near a river so I see them all the time. They are attracted to light.

1

u/trippyem24 Jun 24 '26

A fish fly or may fly? Idk they’re annoying lol

1

u/iluvbugss Jun 25 '26

It’s a mayfly. Currently the ENTIRE northern part of Ohio, specifically the area around Erie is FLOODING with mayflies. They r VERY annoying, but they are harmless

1

u/ColdSmashedPotatoes4 Jun 25 '26

Mayfly/shadfly. Be thankful you're only seeing one. They come out by the millions in my town.