Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

The shed skin of a mayfly larva blows away in the wind before the adult mayflies begin their annual swarming. Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

Male mayflies amass in the air, searching for females. During courtship, up to 40 males can mate with one female. Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

A fisherman holds freshly-caught mayfly larvae, used for bait. Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

A fisherman holds freshly-caught mayfly larvae, used for bait. Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

A frog feeds on a mayfly, surrounded by other dead mayflies. Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

A fish jumps to catch a mayfly. Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

Emerging from the Tisza River, the hatched Long-tailed Mayfly has just a few hours in which to fly, mate and die. Over a few days, larvae that lay for three years on the bottom of the river rise to the surface within an hour of each other. Millions of larvae cloud the water, before hatching into large winged mayflies. They then swarm in a dense group, searching for partners, and laying eggs - but also become food for the river's other creatures. An endangered species, the mayfly is at risk from fishermen seeking bait, and polluted waters.

People in the News,3rd prize