CORYDALIDAE - DOBSONFLIES
Dobsonflies are large, eyecatching insects armed with vicious protruding mandibles (larger in the male). Depsite the intimidating and slightly frightening appearance of these bugs, the mandibles are actually too large (in the male at least) to have the leverage necessary to break human skin, rendering their bite surprisingly weak. Both sexes posture aggressively when threatened, opening the mandible and raising up as if ready to strike, whilst foul-smelling anal secretions act as a secondary defence. The wings are approximately twice the body length and densely crisscrossed with intersecting veins. Larvae (known as hellgrammites to anglers) are aquatic and spend several years living under rocks on stream beds. Larvae emerge onto land to pupate and adults exist purely as a reproductive phase, dying after mating or egg-laying - they apparently do not feed. Adults are frequently attracted to lights.
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Designed by Paul Smith 2006.
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Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith and are used with permission.
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FIGURE 1 - Unidentified sp. male - Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 2 - Unidentified sp. female - Hotel Tirol, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith December 2009).
