Tisza mayfly

Description

Palingenia longicauda is an aquatic insect in the order Ephemeroptera.It is known as the Tisa or Tisza mayfly after the European Tisza river where it is found and also as the long-tailed mayfly and giant mayfly since it is the largest mayfly species in Europe,measuring 12 cm (4.7 in) from head to tail.Unlike many other species of mayflies,adult P.longicauda never move away from water;they fly low and their cerci are frequently touching or sweeping the surface.The slow-moving river and absence of surface-feeding fish help make this possible.The presence of P.longicauda is an indicator of clean unpolluted water.Now extinct in many European countries,it can be found in Serbia and Hungary on the Tisza river,as well as in Romania,on the Prut and Bega.