Mayflies in the Sepik River PNG??

My name is Renee Godfrey and I work for the BBC in the UK.

I was wondering if anyone has seen any mayfly emergences on the Sepik River?

I was hoping you might be able to help me with a few questions I have, or maybe you know someone who would be good to speak to about a potential story...Let me explain:
I work for the BBC on a project called the Human Planet. It follows on the from the huge success of the BBC's Planet Earth Series. The Human Planet series takes a look at how various communities across the world interact with the environments in which they live and looks at the remarkable adaptations and solutions they have come up with in regard to
dealing with the challenges their environment imposes on them. The programme our team are producing is about rivers and how they shape the lives of people around them.

One story I am particularly interest in is a village on the Sepik River. I am still carrying out my research into the exact story but for the moment I am thinking of a story that looks at a Sepik community (possibly Palimbe). I understand from the villagers in Palimbe that swarms of mayflies caught and eaten. I was wondering if you knew anything about this practice. I m told that the mayflies come out between 11AM and 1PM at most times of the year. I would be really interested in finding out more about the types of mayflies caught, when exactly they come out and whether their behaviour is affected by the seasons? Could you recommend a good person to speak to please? Or maybe you know about this topic?

I think it would be incredible to film the emergence of these mayflies in Papua New Guinea, it is not easy trying to predict the event however, which makes the logistics of filming very tough indeed! - I like a challenge though.

Can you confirm the exact date you saw the mayflies please? And also the time of day? ALso, if you know of anyone else who has seen the mayflies on the Sepik I would be so greatful for any more information.
Warm wishes,
Renee

You can email me back at Renee.godfrey@bbc.co.uk

Hello

Can I suggest you actually talk to someone who lives & works on the Sepik, as opposed to a tourist who is travelling through?

Your best man on the Sepik is probably Ralf Stuttgen who has lived there years - so he probably has a fantastic overview.

If it's happened on the river chances are he nows about it - I'm sure if you've done research pn the Sepik you've already worked this out.

The only contact I have is Joe Kone. It may take time for him to reply

joesephykone@yahoo.com.au

FYI there's no mention of this story in the LP PNG guide

You've probably seen it already but there's definitely footage of this phenomenon
in David Attenborough's documentary "A Blank on the Map"

Ha! Really?!!!

Nothing like the Beeb spending our money on a jolly when they've already got it in the can!!!!!! ;-))))