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How many wings does a mayfly have?

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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.

Adult mayflies typically possess two pairs of membranous wings: a large, triangular front pair and a smaller, rounded hind pair. In a few species, however, the hind pair is either extremely reduced or entirely absent. When at rest, these wings are held together in an upright position over the body.1