The daily activity patterns of mayfly nymphs (Ephemeroptera)

Abstract

Nymphs of Baëtis rhodani (Pictet), Ephemerella ignita (Poda), Ecdyonurus venosus (Fabricius), Rhithrogena semicolorata (Curtis), and Heptagenia lateralis (Curtis) showed a similar endogenous rhythm of activity under conditions of natural illumination, continuous light and continuous darkness; and were most active at night when they moved from the lower to the upper surface of the stone. The nymphs were positively thigmotactic and negatively phototactic in flowing water, but these taxes and the endogenous activity rhythm of all species except Heptagenia lateralis changed markedly when the flow of water ceased.