#eastern dobsonfly

[onenicebugperday]

Found this beautiful guy in Southern New York State. ID'd as a Dobsonfly, though not sure what the further breakdown would be. Have lived here all my life and had never seen one before!

Big guy!! Yes it's a male eastern dobsonfly. No other dobsonflies in your area with these big snippers on males, although you do have some related fishflies in the same family. But they don't have huge silly jaws.

[dailybugfacts]

eastern dobsonfly????

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus) is found in much of eastern North America? The aquatic larvae, often called hellgrammites, are excellent predators in the clean streams they live in. The larvae are often used by anglers as fishing bait. The adult female has short, powerful mandibles whereas the male has giant sickle shaped mandibles, measuring up to half the length of his body.

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Photo by Jessica McDaniel

[anniemoia]

Eastern Dobsonfly ♀ Corydalus cornutus

[thewarblerrr]

An Eastern Dobsonfly and his pupal husk

[shirecorn]

Today's bug doesn't bite

Unless?

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

Ok, there were lots of votes for fuzzy (tomorrow, I promise), but I was inspired by @cccshutdown requesting "bring me the Longest beast you know" to post this ginormous female dobsonfly we found at the lights a couple of weeks ago. She is Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus), she is Megaloptera, and she is FIERCE!!

[dougdimmadodo]

Fast Fauna Facts #22 - Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus)

Family: Dobsonfly Family (Corydalidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed

Like most dobsonfly species male Eastern Dobsonflies like the individual pictured above have enormous mandibles used to impress females, wrestle with rival males and grip partners during mating, but despite their intimidating appearance these mandibles are fairly weak and are unlikely to cause significant injury to humans. Ironically, the much shorter mandibles of females are significantly more powerful, with an adult female Eastern Dobsonfly potentially breaking skin if provoked. While both male and female Eastern Dobsonflies possess impressive jaws neither actually feed as adults, instead spending the entirety of their short lives gathered around shallow slow-moving streams attempting to locate and impress mates. After mating female Eastern Dobsonflies lay eggs on rocks or plants hanging over water, and the newly-hatched aquatic larvae, known as hellgrammites, are born with extremely powerful jaws used to feed on smaller insects as they grow.

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[jenfoundabug]

Eastern dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus) larva I found while hanging out in the river in Northeastern Pennsylvania (US) last year. Dobsonfly larvae, also known as hellgrammites, are one of the top invertebrate predators in fast-moving streams. They tend to hide under rocks and use their sharp mandibles to capture and eat prey. These mandibles can also deliver a painful (but harmless) bite, so definitely be careful handling them! Larvae can get up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) long. Since they're large and relatively common, many of the local fishermen like to use them as bait (which may or may not be problematic).

These insects spend 1-3 years as larvae and pupate outside of the stream under a rock or log. The adults are huge. The male can be up to 5.5 inches (14 cm) long and has massive mandibles that are intimidating but harmless. Adults aren't known to feed, and they only live for about a week, just enough time to mate and lay eggs.