Subject: It was so large I thought it was a baby bat when it flew by me.
Location: Massachusetts
July 12, 2013 10:00 pm
It flew into my house at night, and I live in Massachusetts. It was about 60 degrees out, and I don’t live too far from a swamp and there is a horse barn close to my house too. It’s really about 4-5ish inches long, the fork behind it is just at an odd angle. Like the subject says, when it flew past me I thought it was a baby bat.
Signature: Mary
Hi Mary,
Catchy subject lines always grab our attention. This is a Summer Fishfly, Chauliodes pectinicornis, and your location near a swamp is significant. The pectinate antennae distinguish Fishflies from Dobsonflies. According to BugGuide, Summer Fishflies are found: “Near ponds, lakes, quiet parts of streams. (Contrast this with Dobsonflies, which inhabit streams as larvae.) Adults come to lights.”