Ephemeroptera

1. Since some of you seem to be clicking on my name in publishers' lists, I need to state that Going to Heaven is, in fact, my first and only published book and any resemblance to other authors sharing my name is purely coincidental. None of those other interesting titles were written by me!

2. Today we drove down from Canada in the early morning. We stopped briefly at the border, and when we got out of the car we noticed that the side of a bnearby building was covered with something sticky that looked like fallen tree flowers, or large bits of dust, and that this substance had accumulated at the base of the wall in a feathery, beigey-yellow, drifted pile. I went closer, and was kind of shocked: what I was seeing was a mayfly swarm of huge proportions. The insects on the wall were still alive, but those on the ground were dead or close to it. I couldn't begin to count how many there were - it seemed like thousands, millions. I've never seen anything like it. The Ohio State Extension Service (see, I have Columbus on my mind!) gives much more information. Here's a bit, but the whole article is very interesting:

Mayflies are classified in the Insect Order Ephemeroptera, meaning in Greek "lasting but a day." As winged adults, they survive only a few hours or at most a few days, nothing is eaten, nor do they crawl or walk. They only fly and mate within dancing swarms, usually in late afternoon or evening. Swarms, consisting of hundreds or thousands, emerge from the water after synchronously appearing along and inland of the shoreline. Mating normally occurs the same day adulthood is achieved. Females release as many as 8,000 fertile, oval eggs over the water, often scattering them or, in some species, in mass in a suitable place. After eggs are laid, females fall to the water and float, often drifting onto beaches in nuisance piles or windrows. Others are strongly attracted to and congregate under night lights.

Dead mayflies pile up, decompose and give off an offensive dead fish-like odor (stench). This material serves as a breeding ground for flies and other scavenger insects. Also, swarms can cause traffic hazards by their bodies getting crushed, resulting in dangerously slick roads and sidewalks. It is necessary for residents to shovel away mayflies near their homes, and street sweepers to clean the mess off the road. Heavy populations of swarming mayflies have been blamed for brown-outs at power plants, and even putting out campfires.

Wow. Guess we were lucky! Hope the border patrol watched their step!

Comments

[Marja-Leena]

Hey Beth, we both have insects on our minds this week! I remember these mayflies (we called them fish flies) some years at my parents' cottage in Manitoba. The walls would be covered, and at night the lights were obscured by them. Thankfully they were gone in a few days, but the mess left behind was most unpleasant indeed.

[Natalie]

I find this kind of thing (like Rachel's swarm of tent caterpillars) oddly frightening in a science-fiction-ish sort of way. But this sentence from the official description:

"...They only fly and mate within dancing swarms, usually in late afternoon or evening."

is poetic and evocative. These creatures lives seem to be happy, productive and short.

[Lorianne]

It's too bad you'll be in Columbus *this* weekend as I'll be there *next* weekend. I guess our paths aren't destined to cross this time...

[Frank]

Very interesting! We used to get a lot of them when we lived near the St-Lawrence Seaway. I didn't realize their lifespan was that short.

[sylph]

This morning, suggested your book for purchase for this big bibliotheque, suggestion was well received.

[butuki]

If there is any creature which is designed to live a full life, it must be the mayfly. Can you imagine devoting the entire stretch of your adult life purely to having fun? If we could hear their laughter I'm sure we would be amazed.