Why do bugs swarm over water?

378,417 plays|

Luke Jacobus |

TED-Ed

• May 2024

For most of the world’s 4,000 mayfly species, adulthood lasts roughly one day. And for some species, it’s only a matter of minutes. This isn’t because they’re all eaten up by predators. Rather, this abridged adulthood is a natural part of their life cycle. So, what role do these bugs play in their ecosystems? Luke M. Jacobus explores the stunningly short life span of the winged insects. [Directed by Denys Spolitak, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Jarrett Farkas].