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Why are mayflies unique among insects after they develop functional wings?
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mayfly
An adult mayfly (Ephemera vulgata) in Europe.
Mayflies are unique among insects because they are the only ones that molt after developing functional wings.1
In their life cycle, mayflies transition from a nymph into a winged stage known as the subimago, or dun. While the subimago is capable of flight, it is not yet sexually mature. After a period ranging from a few minutes to several days, the insect sheds its exoskeleton one final time to emerge as the imago, or adult stage, which is then ready to mate.12