Jim Kast Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Didn't know where else to put this question! Hopefully someone with a degree can help me out here. Found this odd creature on the porch tonight. Wings look like a cicada's, but the body isn't even close. Any ideas? Total length is about 2". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Loebach Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Looks like it might be a dobson fly( adult form of larval helgrammite)- does it have large mandibles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kast Posted May 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Looks like it might be a dobson fly( adult form of larval helgrammite)- does it have large mandibles? C'mon John, I'm a plumber... what's a mandible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Smith Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 C'mon John, I'm a plumber... what's a mandible? A jaw. Female dobson fly if the jaws are large. Fish fly if the antennae are have comb-like projections on one side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don R Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 "Do the chickens have large talons?" Napoleon Dynamite Sure looks like a helgie on the front end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest One More Cast Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Good call, John....Dobson Fly Adult. Only the Hellgramite stage of this bug has mandibles. Joseph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kast Posted May 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Ok.... the jaws are really hard to see, so I'd take that as being small. There are "comb like projections" on the inside of the antennae. Thanks for speaking english to me, Tim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kast Posted May 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 My next question is.... what the heck is it doing on my front porch? I suppose it's not going to do any biological damage, so I'll release it from captivity! I think the tranquilizer dart is starting to wear off anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Smith Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Apparently, fish flies like light, especially light near water. http://www.whatsthatbug.com/dobs.html I suppose it's not going to do any biological damage, so I'll release it from captivity! CPR all the way!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kast Posted May 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Had the porch light on, and there's a pond down the street! After checking out that most excellent site, it's definately a fishfly. Thanks for all the input guys! It just goes to show, you're never too old to learn. Now I can distinguish between a Dobsonfly and a Fishfly... and I know what mandibles are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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