Dobsonflies & Alderflies
Order Megaloptera
Large-winged insects with aquatic larvae. Males of some dobsonfly species have enormous sickle-shaped mandibles used in mating combat.
Species in this Order (19)
Australian Dobsonfly
Archichauliodes diversus
A large, dark dobsonfly found in clean streams across southeastern Australia. Larvae are important p...
Chinese Dobsonfly
Neoneuromus ignobilis
A large dark-colored dobsonfly found in streams across China and Southeast Asia. It is less well kno...
Chinese Dobsonfly
Acanthacorydalis orientalis
One of the largest aquatic insects in the world, with males having enormously elongated mandibles. F...
Common Alderfly
Sialis lutaria
A dark smoky-winged insect commonly found near still or slow-moving waters across Europe. Its aquati...
Eastern Dobsonfly
Corydalus cornutus
Males have enormous sickle-shaped mandibles up to 40 mm long used in combat for mates. Despite their...
Giant Dobsonfly
Acanthacorydalis fruhstorferi
The largest aquatic insect in the world by wingspan, found in streams in Vietnam and China. Males ha...
Hellgrammite
Nigronia serricornis
A dark-colored dobsonfly whose larvae, known as hellgrammites, are prized as fishing bait. Adults ar...
Indian Dobsonfly
Nevromus testaceus
A medium-sized dobsonfly found in hill streams of the Indian subcontinent. Larvae live under rocks i...
Japanese Alderfly
Sialis japonica
A medium-sized alderfly found in ponds and slow streams across Japan. It is one of the most common m...
Large Alderfly
Sialis nigripes
A relatively large alderfly with dark wings and black legs found near rivers in eastern North Americ...
North American Alderfly
Sialis infumata
A small, dark-winged alderfly common near ponds and slow streams across eastern North America. Adult...
Smoky Alderfly
Sialis fuliginosa
A European alderfly distinguished from S. lutaria by its preference for flowing water rather than st...
South African Alderfly
Leptosialis africana
One of the few alderfly species found in the Southern Hemisphere, occurring in clean mountain stream...
South African Dobsonfly
Taeniochauliodes ochraceus
A large dobsonfly from southern African rivers with broad amber-tinged wings....
South American Dobsonfly
Chloronia hieroglyphica
A large, distinctively patterned dobsonfly from South American mountain streams. Its wings bear intr...
Spring Fishfly
Chauliodes rastricornis
A medium-sized fishfly with pectinate antennae found in eastern North America. Adults are attracted ...
Summer Fishfly
Chauliodes pectinicornis
A medium-sized fishfly emerging in summer with distinctive dark-veined wings and feathery antennae. ...
Western Dobsonfly
Neohermes californicus
A large dobsonfly of western North American streams, smaller than its eastern relative. Larvae are t...
Western Fishfly
Neohermes filicornis
A western North American fishfly with feathery antennae and brownish wings. Adults are attracted to ...