Distribution and Abundance of Mayflies from Western Maharashtra

A total of 17 species of Mayflies namely Sparsorythus gracilis, Caenis nigrostriata, Clypeocaenis bisetosa, Cloeon bicolour, Cloeon kimminsi, Procloeon bimaculatum, Cloeon marginale, Baetis fluitans, Procloeonharveyi, Prosopistoma indicum, Epeorus gilliesi, Povilla corporaali, Povilla andamanensis, Ameletus primitives, Isca purpurea, Nathenella indica and Notophlebia jobi have been reported from different study area in eight rivers of Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts of western Maharashtra. Clypeocaenis bisetosa had the highest seasonal abundance with a sex ratio of 1:16.2, while in C nigrostriata had the lowest. The number of females was generally greater than males across species. S. gracilis was recorded from February to May, peaking in May with a sex ratio of 1:4.36. C. kimminsi appeared from February to June, with peak in April and a sex ratio of 1:3.25. P. bimaculatum was present from December to May and peaked in March, showing a sex ratio of 1:8.33. C. marginale was found from March to June with a sex ratio of 1:2.08, peaking in March. Other species including P. harveyi, P. indicum, E. gilliesi, P. corporaali, P. andamanensis, A. primitives, I. purpurea, N. indica and N. jobi had varying presence and peak counts, primarily around May to June.