Family Corydalidae - Dobsonflies and Fishflies

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Remarks · See Also · Works Cited

Bug on my front porch in Easton PA. July 5th and 6th. It stayed in place on the brick for 2 days. - Corydalus cornutus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Megaloptera (Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies)

Family Corydalidae (Dobsonflies and Fishflies)

Numbers

19 spp. in 7 genera in our area(1)

Size

25-80 mm

Identification

Large insects with soft bodies and delicate wings. Adults often found near aquatic habitat of the larvae. Key characters:

Wings folded flat over back at rest

Ocelli (simple eyes) present

Fourth segment of tarsi rounded, not flattened, as in Sialidae

Antennae quite variable, may be filiform (thread-like), moniliform (like beads on a string), pectinate (comb-like)

Males of many species have enlarged mandibles, presumably used in competition for mates

Range

Eastern genera: Chauliodes, Corydalus, Neohermes, Nigronia.

Western genera: Neohermes, Dysmicohermes (nw. NA), Orohermes (Pacific coast), and Protochauliodes (w. US; Australia, New Zealand, Chile)

Habitat

Larvae aquatic

Remarks

See Also

Sialidae (Alderflies)

Works Cited

1.	Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America North of Mexico By N.D. Penny, P.A. Adams, & L.A. Stange

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 3 May, 2004 - 3:48pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Lynette, v belov
Last updated 3 October, 2010 - 12:30pm

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