possible hellgrammite? please help to identify.

Fishfly larva

llmcelhenny-

This is the larva of a Fishfly, as your photos reveal breathing tubes extending from the end of its abdomen. Only the larva of a Dobsonfly is properly referred to as a Hellgrammite. Fishflies are closely related to Dobsonflies. Both belong to order Megaloptera, family Corydalidae. However, Dobsonflies are in subfamily Corydalinae, and Fishflies are in subfamily Chauliodinae. This can visualized somewhat easier at Alderfly, Dobsonfly, Fishfly Taxonomic Structure.

… Roger Rohrbeck, 21 May, 2009 - 12:40am

thank you

It's interesting that the website TroutNut (?) is having a bit of a debate about this very subject. Most people commonly use "hellgrammite" for both, the fishfly and the dobsonfly larva. I wondered what the difference was between the two, besides subfamily. Thank you very much for letting me know. Now, we'll be on a quest to find the REAL hellgrammite. lol

Heather

… Heather McElhenny, 21 May, 2009 - 7:50am

Correction

Hi Heather,

Some observable differences between dobsonfly and fishfly larvae are size (mature dobsonfly larvae are much larger), breathing tubes (only fishfly larvae have them), and gill tufts adjacent to lateral filaments (only dobsonfly larvae have them).

What (at first glance) appeared (to my tired eyes) to be breathing tubes on your specimen, as I now look at it more closely, are really just lateral filaments on the last abdominal segment, and not breathing tubes, which would be attached somewhat anterior of the last abdominal segment, and would be larger, longer, and shaped like a ridged flexible hose. So, your specimen is actually a dobsonfly larva, and your quest to find a REAL Hellgrammite should be considered complete. Incidentally, the last post on that old TroutNut thread was mine.

… Roger Rohrbeck, 21 May, 2009 - 7:34pm

Maybe a dobsonfly larva (hellgrammite)...

... but it could also be a fishfly larva, for example:

. You can find more info on both here http://bugguide.net/node/view/3609.

… Carmen Champagne, 20 May, 2009 - 11:04am

Definitely

Family Corydalidae.

… Natalie Hernandez, 20 May, 2009 - 3:36pm

By the way....

What does this dear turn into? What changes take place, if any?
Thanks,
Aileen (my 7 year old daughter) :)

… Heather McElhenny, 19 May, 2009 - 9:47pm

Don't scare Aileen -

they don't bite people - but here is a male Dobsonfly:

Isn't he impressive? And big, too: 3 to 4 inches.

… margarethe brummermann, 20 May, 2009 - 11:40am

this cutie

thanks so much!! i think we may take him back to the log we found him under. may consider leaving him under the bark in the tank to see if he changes. he seems content at this point. not sure what to do. my little Aileen isn't afraid of much, when it comes to insects. we both love them!! :)

… Heather McElhenny, 20 May, 2009 - 4:58pm