rss Black, pinchers on head, looks like 20 legs,attracted to lantern
May 24, 2010
I found this bug along a river in western Pennsylvania
Glenn
Connellsville, Pennsylvania
Hellgrammite
Dear Glenn,
You have such a descriptive title. This is a Hellgrammite, the larval form of the Dobsonfly.
long hooks
May 19, 2010
Long hooks I looked this insect up and saw nothing online
Dont matter
South Texas
Dobsonfly
This is a harmless Dobsonfly.
Large Mottled Insect
May 21, 2010
I found this insect outside an office building in the parking lot. It ws the most unusual insect I think I have ever seen. The bug was about 4 inches long and not the least bit shy. It walked towards me instead of away and tried to crawl up onto my shoe. I was just wondering what it is and a little more about it.
Leah
Cullman, Ala
Dobsonfly
Hi Leah,
We know that summer is coming when the Dobsonfly images start to arrive in our email box. This is a male Dobsonfly, which may be distinguished from the female by his trophy mandibles. The female’s less impressive mouthparts are actually much more utilitarian, and she is able to deliver a painful pinch if carelessly handled. We have read that the male uses his saber-like mandibles for mating and/or jousting with other males, and we long for a photo documentation that illustrates the behavior.
Bug from my metropolitan house in Monterrey, Mexico
May 14, 2010
I have been living in the Monterrey, Mexico area my whole life (36 yr). I´ve seen wear bugs in the country side, but yesterday I found this bug in the garage of my urban house. Would love if somebody help me with the name (don´t know much about bugs, it might be a common insect…) Thanks in advance
Alex
Monterrey, México (urban area)
Female Dobsonfly
Hola Alex,
This is a female Dobsonfly, and she can deliver a somewhat painful, though not dangerous or life threatening bite if provoked. The male, who has much more developed mandibles, in nearly incapable of biting.
Female Dobsonfly
what IS this nasty thing!?
May 6, 2010
i live in northeastern ontario, just south of algonquin park (minden, ontario). the other day, my cat brought one of these nasty uglies into the house. it was literally lunging at the cat and the dog. i scooped it into a cup and pitched it out into the yard. the next morning, a blue jay was attacking one in the front yard and having a hell of a time of it. that night, the dog brought one in. i’ve been told these are not native to my region – what gives?!
threenorns
minden, ontario
Hellgrammite fascinates dog and cat
Hi there threenorns,
This picture is quite intriguing. Your dog and cat are transfixed by a Hellgrammite, the larva of a Dobsonfly, and it is a local species for you. Fishermen love to use Hellgrammites as live bait. We are setting your letter and photo to post next Wednesday, the last day of our trip back to Ohio to visit with mom.
Unusual Specimen
April 29, 2010
Unfortunately I don’t have an actual picture. Me and my buddy were fishing up in the san luis mountains in colorado and were looking for bait under old downed logs. We hooked what we thought was a grub worm at first. After taking a closer look, the bug appeared to have sharp clamps that could latch onto things and refuse to let go, Ive looked everywhere to find what kind of bug this may be. nothing. Maybe someone here may have some insight on what this could be. Sorry i dont have a picture 
im going back up there this summer and hopefully i can find another one.
Jonathan Gage
San Luis Mountains in Colorado
Hellgrammite
Hi Jonathan,
Your excellent drawing and description leaves little doubt in our mind that you had an encounter with a Hellgrammite, the larva of a Dobsonfly, and one of the best live baits according to anglers who write to us.
I belive this may be some type of anthropod but not really sure.
April 20, 2010
My wife and I took a cruise and after leaving Roatan, Honduras I saw this bug crawling in the hallway outside our room. It was approximately 4 inches long and was not moving very fast. I was able to get two shots of it before the cabin steward came and squashed it.
James Babcock
Roatan, Honduras
Hellgrammite
Hi James,
You encountered a Hellgrammite, the larval form of the winged Dobsonfly. This is such a magnificent and unforgettable insect, we believe there must be some colorful name for it in Spanish as well.
Is It as dangerus as it looks?
March 11, 2010
My 8 year old Neice came running to get me because she found a “big and scary bug”
this is what was sitting just out side the door. We live in central Missouri, in a small farming town lots of rural farm animals like chickens and goats around. Nither myself nor my naighbors have seen a bug like this before. this was about mid august. i have shown the pic around and one of my friends mentiond this web site to me.
the pincers were functional but they looked rather soft and like it couldn’t realy pince with them. needles to say we didn’t get close enough to find out. It was about 3 to 4 inches long and i only got one shot becuase my flash spooked it and it flew away. not far but into the near bye tree and out of camara range. Is it native and is it dangours? and what is it?
K.Ekstam
Eugene Misssouri
Male Dobsonfly
Dear K,
This is very early in the year for a Dobsonfly appearance in Missouri, and even the data on BugGuide indicates that the earliest sightings for the year have occurred in April in South Carolina. This has us a bit puzzled. The Dobsonfly is native and harmless. Your specimen is a male, and the mandibles of the female are considerably smaller, but also much more capable of inflicting a significant pinch, though again, it is perfectly harmless. We are also confused that your letter requests an identification, yet the photo file is titled “Dobsinfly male”.
Im sorry about that. the picture is not recent it was from last summer.i thought i had mentiond that. i had stumbled on your web page a few days ago and asked my husband were the picture of the big creepy bug was. he said he had a copy put up on our deviant art web page cause it was a good photo, it wasn’t untill after i sent it to you that i realized he already knew what it was. i feel a little silly about that. but i hope you enjoyed the picture at least. and that you for the bit more information on them.
I like This