This mayfly, with its characteristic markings and three tails (Cerci), is the most commonly seen of British Ephemeridae.

[2][3] These insects are part of the aerial plankton and usually they are food for swallows, trout and many amphibians and spiders.

They dig tunnels into the gravel in the beds of rivers and feed by filtering organic detritus.

The adults mainly can be found in May–June (hence the common name of mayfly), at the end of many larval stages.

[4] This species is commonly found in clear water rivers and lakes with sandy or gravel bottoms throughout Europe, including the British Isles.