Supporting 3D trajectories, code, and simulations for: The nuptial dance of male mayflies helps avoid mistaken interception by other males

Male mayflies (Ephemeroptera) engage in oscillating nuptial flight patterns in which they climb vertically before passively parachuting downward. Males hold station above an area often in large numbers, intercepting adult females passing overhead. We reconstructed the flight behaviour of common mayfly (Ephemera vulgata) aggregations in 3D, while they were performing their nuptial dance and chasing artificial targets. Male mayflies chased any object that travelled horizontally above them and attempted to mate with it. Despite this indiscriminative chasing, we observed that males mayflies rarely caught each other by mistake. We suggest that the flight pattern of male mayflies helps them avoid each other whilst keeping the flight-motor system active. By flying vertically, males rarely fly horizontally above each other, the key signature used to identify potential mates. Male mayflies stop their pursuit if the target drops beneath the horizon. Therefore, we suggest that male mayflies engage..., , , # Supporting 3D trajectories, code, and simulations for: The nuptial dance of male mayflies helps avoid mistaken interception by other males #### Associated Publication Samuel T. Fabian, Benjamin P. Campbell, Eleanor F. Miller, Huai-Ti Lin; The nuptial dance of male mayflies helps avoid mistaken interception by other males. J Exp Biol 15 March 2026; 229 (6): jeb251579. doi: [https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.251579](https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.251579) --- ## Dataset Overview This repository is designed to provide the data and handling scripts of the reconstructed mayfly (Ephemera vulgata) 3D trajectories. It also replicates the kinematic analyses performed in the associated paper. We also provide the scripts associated with our interception and swarm simulations. This dataset contains 3D reconstructed flight trajectories of male mayflies (*Ephemera vulgata*), along with MATLAB scripts used for kinematic analysis and simulation studies presented in the associated publication. All data an...,