DOBSONFLY

Common Name: Dobsonfly
Scientific Name: Corydalus sp.

 Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Subphylum:    Hexapoda

Class:             Insecta

Subclass:       Pterygota

Infraclass:       Neoptera

Superorder:   Endopterygota or Neuropterida

Order:             Megaloptera

Family:           Corydalidae

Subfamily:      Corydalinae

Dobsonflies spend most of their life in the larval stage, during which they are called hellgrammites

After a few years of living and growing underwater, the larvae crawl out onto land and pupate. They stay in their cocoons over the winter and emerge only to mate. Upon emerging, they live for only seven days. While not generally believed to eat during their adult stage

MY OBSERVATIONS

09-03-1993 – Location : Palode, Thiruvananthapuram

Eyes        : Compound eyes, light green tint

Legs         : Small white hairs in legs and in the body

                     Thorn-like parts at the end of the legs

Wings      : Transparent, Brown in colour, with veins, Hard as dragonfly. When at rest, wings are held flat over the back and extend beyond the abdomen

Very slow speed in flight. Flying sound is like dragonfly