So what is the purpose of these strange beings? What's their strange story?
Mayflies spend the first part of their life living underwater and breathing through small gills. They make important food for certain species of fish. In fact, some species of mayflies are predators on other aquatic insects. When adult, they fly out of the water and shed their waterproof skins, which are those gray paper like things we see lying everywhere.. Studies show that they are found only in unpolluted waters ... So, their infestation is a good thing in that we can be proud of the clean water around us...

Adult mayflies are the ones that land on our cabins, weigh down the lower tree branches around the edges of the water. Adults emerge from the water, and their purpose from then on is to mate. The adults have no mouths so they do not eat (or bite) .  After mating, the males die immediately. The females fly to water, lay their eggs into the watery depths and then also die.

People write poems about the mayfly..This little creature can give you goose bumps if it lights on you.....You duck and dodge it's darting flight ... You flap and swat at them..... You abide their  take over for a few days... Then the clean-up begins....
There are people who actually study these little creatures...For more facts about mayflies see this very interesting site....Mayfly Central