Occurrence of Mayflies in Kolhapur District

Abstract

Globally 3000 species of mayflies are scattered in to  400 genera and 42 families (Barber James et al.,  2008). Of these, 390 species in 84 genera and 20  families occur in the Oriental region. About 49% of  the genera (41 genera) are endemic to the region  (Barber James et al., 2008). A greater part of Mayflies  life cycle spent as larvae in water, while their short  terrestrial adult life is simply for reproduction (Dubey  et al., 2013). The seasonal pattern of temperature and  nutritive value of food significantly affects the life  history characteristics of a variety of aquatic insect  species (Sweeney 1984). A total of 10 species have been reported from Kolhapur district namely  Sparsorythus gracilis Sroka and Soldan, Caenis  nigrostriata Navas, Clypeocaenis bisetosa Soldan, Cloeon  bicolor Kimmins, Cloeon kimminsi Hubbard, Cloeon  marginale Hagen, Procloeon bimaculatum Eaton,  Prosopistoma indicum Peters, Epeorus gilliesi Braasch,  Povila corporaali Lestage.