Overview
Nymphs are nocturnal and carnivorous, feeding mainly on other mayflies and chironomids which they engulf whole (Campbell 1980, 1985). They occur in stony, upland streams where they appear to require large cobbles for shelter. The life history of
M. aapta
is quite variable, occupying 10-18 months (Campbell 1986). Nymphs undergo their final ecdysis on the stream bed and subimagos rise through the water to emerge directly from the water surface. Adults are present from October to April, and females may be seen during the day depositing eggs in small groups on the surface of river pools. Each female produces about 8000 eggs.
Description
Nymphs of
Mirawara
(3 spp.) are large with prognathous heads and gills bearing both a plate-like lamella and a tuft. Adults are unique among Australian mayflies in often having red or purple wings. The genus is widespread on the mainland from Cairns to near Melbourne (Campbell 1981).