The color and body markings are somewhat variable but this insect is usually some shade of yellow, pale brown or white.

It has tusks on its mandibles with which it can dig, three pairs of legs, developing wingpads in later growth stages, and three elongated tails.

[3] In cold northern lakes, it may take two years to develop, but in canals in the south of the United States, this may be reduced to as little as seventeen weeks.

[4] When the fully developed nymph rises to the surface to emerge as an adult, it first enters a subimago stage.

[3] After a period of one to three days, the subimago flies to a resting place where it molts one more time, becoming a sexually mature adult form, the imago.

[5] Subimago and adult mayflies do not have functioning mouthparts and do not eat; the nymphs are mainly detritivores, feeding on organic particles that are moved into their burrows by the current of water caused by their constantly beating gills.

The mayflies can be attracted to human lighting at night, resulting in swarms at gas stations, etc.