Critter of the Week

This week's critter is the piriwai or spiny gilled mayfly, Coloburiscus humeralis. They spend most of their lives as flat-bodied nymphs, clinging to rocks in swift, clear streams and rivers. Adult piriwai have beautiful translucent wings and no mouthparts - they're just looking to reproduce before they die, only living for a few hours or days. Catching sight of piriwai is a good sign that the stream or river is healthy.