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Can adult mayflies eat after they develop wings?

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A mayfly (Ephemera vulgata) with delicate, veined wings and long tail filaments clings to a green blade of grass against a blurred green background. — mayfly An adult mayfly (*Ephemera vulgata*) in Europe.

Once mayflies enter their winged stages, they cannot feed. Adult mayflies possess functionless mouthparts and digestive tracts, meaning they are unable to consume food after they develop wings. Their brief adult life is dedicated almost entirely to reproduction, and they typically die shortly after mating and egg deposition.1