Eggs | Larval Stage | Adult | |
---|---|---|---|
Life span | 2 weeks | 1 year | 24-48 hours |
Food | n/a | Algae, detritus in water | n/a |
Predators | Water snails, caddisfly larvae | Fish, dragonfly larvae, birds and water beetles | Fish, birds, dragonflies, water beetles |
Habitats | Laid in water on plant stems or similar | Lives in shingle/under stones on stream beds | Flies around close to stream and river banks |
Hazards | Chemical spillage and other pollution in water system | Chemical spillage and other pollution in water system | Shiny reflective non-water bodies such as glass tables and some solar panels which attract them to lay eggs where they then fry |
Way to help | Dispose of hazardous chemicals responsibly, reduce fertiliser nitrate run-off into waterways | Dispose of hazardous chemicals responsibly, reduce fertiliser nitrate run-off into waterways Potentially shade watercourse s increased water temperature is bad for their development | Avoid highly reflective tables etc or put a cloth on them |
Friends | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Services | n/a | Helps keep | Bumper food for fish |