Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering
 
Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies (Megaloptera) » Dobsonflies and Fishflies (Corydalidae) » Dobsonflies (Corydalus) » Eastern Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus)
Photo#200952
Giant Fly with long mandables and antennae. - Corydalus cornutus
Copyright © 2008 Heather Wilkins

Giant Fly with long mandables and antennae. - Corydalus cornutus
Arden, Big Clear lake, Ontario, Ontario, Canada
Size: Body - 3", wing span - 6"
This specimen has a long body. It has antennae and mandables. 4 wings that are similar in placement to those of a dragonfly. It was the same length as my index finger. 6 legs. Eyes on the side of the head. Head as big as my finger tip. The insect was drawn to the lamp that was on inside the cottage. It was night time. When it was flying into the window, we thought it was a fairy!
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Heather Wilkins on 13 July, 2008 - 12:33am
Last updated 1 August, 2008 - 9:17pm

Dobsonfly
Male Dobsonfly.

The females lack the giant mandibles.

They're harmless. The males aren't capable of biting, but the females have much shorter mandibles and are capable of biting.
… Jebus31, 13 July, 2008 - 12:38am login or register to post comments

 
dobson fly ID
Thank you so much for the speedy reply to my post. This was, most certainly the biggest fly that I have ever seen, and extremely fascinating to watch too!
… Heather Wilkins, 13 July, 2008 - 12:43am login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2010 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact