Larva: Dobsonfly larvae (75 to 90 mm in length) are light brown and darkened by a covering of dark brown microspines (Neunzig and Baker 1991). The thoracic segments are covered with hardened, black tergites (dorsal plates).
Abdominal segments 1 through 8 have lateral tactile filaments which function to protect them from each other and from other small predators (Neunzig and Baker 1991), and segments 1 through 7 each has a pair of ventro-lateral tufts of tracheal gills that absorb dissolved oxygen (Barclay et al. 2005, Hoover et al. 1988). In addition to the tracheal gills, larvae also have spiracles allowing them to breathe both in and out of water. There are two prolegs at the tip of the abdomen -- each with a dorsal filament and a pair of terminal hooks to help the larvae anchor themselves to the substrate. The mandibles are powerful and heavily sclerotized.
Pupae: Dobsonfly pupae are exarate ( the developing wings, legs, antennae and mouthparts are attached only at their proximal ends) and yellow-orange in coloration with darker splotches on the dorsum of the abdomen. They are covered with minute setae. Male pupae have a small tubercle on the sternum of the prothorax and have slightly larger mandibles and wider head capsules than females, (Mangan 1994), but the mandibles of the sexes are not markedly dimorphic as in the adults. Parfin (1952) reported that the long mandibles of the male are folded up like an accordion in the pupal exoskeleton.
Adults: Adult dobsonflies are large insects, 100 to 140 mm (Arnett 2000), with large wings from which the order name Megaloptera (large wing) is derived. The female has short powerful mandibles similar in size to those of the larva and is capable of drawing blood with her bite. The male has long, sickle-shaped mandibles (up to 40 mm in length) and is incapable of inflicting a painful bite.
The hellgrammites live under stones or occasionally on snags where they feed on a variety of soft-bodied insects (often immatures of net-spinning caddisflies and blackflies) (McCafferty and Provonsha 1983). In captivity, they will feed on midge larvae or commercial aquarium fish foods such as freeze-dried tubifex worms or fish food flakes (Hoover et al 1988). Helgrammites molt (shed their exoskeletons) 10 to 12 times and require one to three years to complete their development.
When ready to pupate, hellgrammites leave the water and may pupate close to the water or travel up to 15 meters or more in search of a suitable site for pupation (Mangan 1994) – typically under a rock, log, or some type of debris that serves to maintain a moist environment. Exodus from the water of full-grown hellgrammites in a given location is fairly synchronous (within a few days). Voshell (2002) states that local residents along Virginia rivers report that thunderstorms trigger emergence of the hellgrammites – a phenomenon known locally as "hellgrammite crawling". It is believed that the behavior is stimulated by the vibrations from the thunder.
Upon reaching a suitable site for pupation, the hellgrammite typically digs a cell in the soil with its legs and mouthparts and smooths the interior by pressing the sides of its body against the wall of the cell. Hellgrammites have no silk glands; consequently, there is no silk or cocoon lining the cell. After spending one to 14 days inside the cell as a prepupa, the hellgrammite sheds its exoskeleton to become a pupa. The pupal stage requires seven to 14 days after which the adult emerges and digs its way out of the cell.
Adult dobsonflies are short-lived (about three days for males and eight to 10 days for females). It is generally believed that they do not feed in nature, but Parfin (1952) has reported that they will take a 3:1 mixture of honey water in captivity. She also reports that several entomologists have collected them at fermenting baits painted on tree trunks. The adults are active at night and are strongly attracted to lights. Otherwise they spend most of their time in thick vegetation near streams. Parfin (1952) has given a detailed description of the mating behavior of dobsonflies. As part of the premating ritual, males place their elongated jaws on the wings of the females perpendicular to the axis of the female's wings. The male's jaws also function in jousting with rival males. However, males were not observed to grasp the females as reported in older literature.
Females lay their eggs on surfaces overhanging the water such as bridge abutments and the leaves, branches or trunks of trees (Mangan 1992). The egg masses are not randomly distributed, but rather they tend to occur in patches – suggesting the possibility of an oviposition pheromone (Mangan 1992).
Mangan (1992) presented evidence that the white covering of the egg mass helps protect the eggs from overheating. It is also possible that the covering may function to protect the eggs from predation.
Dobsonflies are beneficial insects and should be conserved. Hellgrammites are prized as bait by fishermen (particularly for smallmouth bass) and are available for sale at bait shops in some areas. Because of the effort required to collect them, they are fairly expensive to purchase. Therefore, they may be subject to over-exploitation and their collection for sale is regulated in some states. Although, hellgrammites are great fish bait, they are rarely found in the stomachs of fish – probably because they spend most of their time under rocks where they are inaccessible.
Hellgrammites tend to be found in relatively unpolluted water. Therefore, they may have value in bio-monitoring studies (Voshell 2002). Perhaps their greatest value may be their contribution to biodiversity in their habitat as predators.
Author: Donald W. Hall, University of Florida
Photographs: Jerry F. Butler Lyle J. Buss, and Donald W. Hall, University of Florida
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-414
Publication Date: July 2007. Latest revision: March 2008
Copyright 2007-2008 University of Florida
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egg mass
larva
female pupa
adult female
adult male
adult male - wings spread
female and male compared
hellgrammite habitat
egg masses