Mayflies have declined a massive 84% over recent years in some places, according to a new report.
The study was published in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'. In that study, it found that the Mayfly population had declined by 84% in Lake Eerie in North America, near the Mississippi river basin, between 2015 and 2019. In other words, almost the full population of Mayflies were wiped out within four years in Lake Eerie.
Such a dramatic and quick decline in Mayflies in this area is worrying. Not just for Mayflies, but for other animals that depend on them for their survival - species of birds eat insects like Mayflies to survive.
Other animals could also be affected, as many other wild animals also eat Mayflies to survive. These other wild animals who eat Mayflies include Frogs and Bats. A decline in the insect population will have a knock on affect to other animals which rely on them, and therefore, we could see a drop in other wild animal species population numbers due to the decline in Mayflies.
Lake Eerie is not the only place which has seen a dramatic decline in these beautiful insects. Another place which has been affected is - the Upper Mississippi area. In the Upper Mississippi area there has been a 52% decline in Mayflies between 2012 and 2019.
Why Has There Been Such A Decline In Mayflies?
There are thought to be several reasons why Mayfly numbers have dramatically dropped over recent years.
One thing that is thought to have caused the decline is a use in pesticides in the area. Pesticides are deadly for animals like Mayflies.
Another reason it is thought that Mayfly populations have been declining in recent years in the area, is due to warming waters and global warming.
And finally, another reason why Mayfly populations are thought to have dropped is because of algae blooms in the area - algae blooms are deadly for animals like Mayflies.