Baetidae

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Baetidae
Cloeon dipterum
Cloeon dipterum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Ephemeroptera
Suborder: Schistonota
Superfamily: Baetoidea
Family: Baetidae
Genera include

Acentrella
Acerpenna
Apobaetis
Baetis
Baetodes
Baetopus
Barbaetis
Callibaetis
Camelobaetidius
Centroptilum
Cloeodes
Cloeon
Diphetor
Fallceon
Heterocloeon
Labiobaetis
Paracloeodes
Procloeon
Pseudocentroptiloides

Baetidae is a family of mayflies with about 900 described species distributed worldwide. These are among the smallest of mayflies, adults rarely exceeding 10 mm in length excluding the two long slender tails and sometimes much smaller, and members of the family are often referred to as small mayflies or small minnow mayflies. Most species have long oval forewings with very few cross veins (see Comstock-Needham system) but the hindwings are usually very small or even absent. The males often have very large eyes, shaped like turrets above the head (this is known as "turbinate condition").

A baetid mayfly emerging from its exuvia
A baetid mayfly emerging from its exuvia

Baetids breed in a wide range of waters from lakes and streams to ditches and even water butts. The nymphs are strong swimmers and feed mainly on algae.

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