order
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_coleoptera_adult_v_160.png)
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_coleoptera_larva_v_160.png)
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_diptera_larva_v_160.png)
Diptera
“True Flies”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_ephemeroptera_larva_v_160.png)
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_hemiptera_adult_v_160.png)
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_lepidoptera_larva_v_160.png)
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_megaloptera_larva_v_160.png)
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_odonata_larva_v_160.png)
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_plecoptera_larva_v_160.png)
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
![](/images/illustrations/illustration_trichoptera_larva_v_160.png)
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Polymitarcyidae
“Pale Burrower Mayflies”
Family Overview
Polymitarcyidae
![Listen to the pronunciation of polymitarcyidae](/images/buttons/audio.png)
Pale Burrower Mayflies
Long slender mayfly with its gills long, forked, marginally fringed, and curved over abdomen; pair of sharp tusks projecting beyond head and curved downward; the legs are generally expanded or with tubercles for digging and the hind tibiae are rounded apically.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Upper Midwest: up to 2
Southeast: up to 1.5
0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
FEEDING HABITS
Collector / Filterer
Collector / Gatherer
Collector / Gatherer
MOVEMENT
Burrower
Diagnostic Characters
order
![](https://static.macroinvertebrates.org/gigapans/198032/images.5e7431bc1d21a90536ed90ae9c486483/198032-120x120-10631-16842-3142-9353.jpg)
Abdominal Gills
![](https://static.macroinvertebrates.org/gigapans/198032/images.5e7431bc1d21a90536ed90ae9c486483/198032-120x120-2249-2725-4472-4948.jpg)
Single Tarsal Claw
![](https://static.macroinvertebrates.org/gigapans/198032/images.5e7431bc1d21a90536ed90ae9c486483/198032-120x120-16987-24003-872-7888.jpg)
Usually 3 Tails
family
![](https://static.macroinvertebrates.org/gigapans/198032/images.5e7431bc1d21a90536ed90ae9c486483/198032-120x120-10744-16684-3189-9129.jpg)
Gills on 2-7 Forked, Long, Curving over Abdomen
![](https://static.macroinvertebrates.org/gigapans/198032/images.5e7431bc1d21a90536ed90ae9c486483/198032-120x120-8770-12077-6235-9542.jpg)
Legs Flattened or Tuberculate
![](https://static.macroinvertebrates.org/gigapans/198034/images.50e71d62af96c40332284aa6636cec4e/198034-120x120-1406-3743-2434-4772.jpg)
Long Tusks Straight or Downcurved
![](https://static.macroinvertebrates.org/gigapans/198032/images.5e7431bc1d21a90536ed90ae9c486483/198032-120x120-10805-11608-7894-8698.jpg)
​Hind Tibiae Rounded Apically
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Wings developing in wing pads. Mouthparts suitable for chewing. Gills present on tops and sides of abdomen. Segmented legs present. One tarsal claw per leg. Usually with 3 tails (sometimes 2).
Family:
Long slender mayfly with its gills long, forked, marginally fringed, and curved over abdomen; pair of sharp tusks projecting beyond head and curved downward; the legs are generally expanded or with tubercles for digging and the hind tibiae are rounded apically.
Dorsal
Lateral