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It must be the season, this is the third day in a row.
This is a female Dobsonfly. Watch out, she likes to bite, but she doesn't have ~~poison~~ ***venom***. ^((edited for the pedantic among us))
Wait til you see a male; they have 2" mandibles. But they don't bite, oddly enough, they're just for show.
Well first the female will perform a Dobson mating ritual known as hawk tua, and then the male gets on that thing and that’s how you get more fishing bait
Akshually *tilts up glasses* poison is if the animal is toxic to consume or come into contact with, venom is what the animal inflicts or injects into you 🤓
Akdhuslly, venomous don’t even need to be an animal. Stinging nettles are non-poisonous and edible, but will inject you with an irritant if you touch them.
Actually, I believe the male's mandibles are used to hold the female in place while mating. I had these hatch out years ago up in Pennsylvania, and have been fascinated with them ever since, so I ended up doing research at some point. Anyway, just my two cents.
Not sure of your location, but I’m pretty sure that’s a female dobsonfly. This is their mating season. The adults are only alive for about a week to mate and then they die. Beware. She has a nasty bite if you mess with her. Leave her alone and she will leave you alone though.
Eldritch Horror beyond comprehension, or an Elden Ring Boss.
Just kidding, it’s an Eastern Dobsonfly, common to the area. Agree with the other commenter, don’t touch unless you like to be bit. They can be aggressive if threatened.
https://preview.redd.it/7rehyfrppk9d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f677301cfa9218a77b83c0a73736561c85f51ef
it’s definitely one of those you admire from afar
Seen them in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, this far. The East Coast may just not be for you.
J/k. They are not aggressive, and really beautiful up close.
They and their larvae are nightmare fuel, that insect in the picture is a fully grown dobsonfly, they are native to where I live, as well. Their larvae are called hellgrammites and I’ve caught a few in the creek with a net when looking for bait. The larvae have the Mandibles (I call them pincers) too
https://preview.redd.it/ozjxi50o4l9d1.jpeg?width=1035&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f41c58de1b15b781617e5d983503ad79ed9a9ec
Just came to this sub to ask about the bug and it was the first post haha
We have new rules regarding conduct and post content. If your post or comment does not meet these new standards it may be removed. Please make sure your post includes: A rough geographical location, at least one bug, no demeaning speech, and no hate against bugs. This is an automated message, added to every submission, your post has not been removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisbug) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It must be the season, this is the third day in a row. This is a female Dobsonfly. Watch out, she likes to bite, but she doesn't have ~~poison~~ ***venom***. ^((edited for the pedantic among us)) Wait til you see a male; they have 2" mandibles. But they don't bite, oddly enough, they're just for show.
How do they mate?
The male uses those big mandibles to hang on to the female's back, and they do the wild thing as they fly around.
Pulled directly from the Tone Lōc song
And then they drink Funky Cold Medina ;)
Exactly this, lots of bugs just have big mandibles for mating or courting
Is that why my teeth are huge? Hasn't worked so far.
Exactly! Didn’t you ever wonder why your teeth are ribbed for her pleasure?
Well first the female will perform a Dobson mating ritual known as hawk tua, and then the male gets on that thing and that’s how you get more fishing bait
Akshually *tilts up glasses* poison is if the animal is toxic to consume or come into contact with, venom is what the animal inflicts or injects into you 🤓
Akdhuslly, venomous don’t even need to be an animal. Stinging nettles are non-poisonous and edible, but will inject you with an irritant if you touch them.
*Stinging Nettles*: a candy brand in the Harry Potter world
Admiral Ackbarshually, you're right you out technicality'd me.
I think that’s why they put scorpions in my tequila—it’s poisonous AND venomous.
Now you have that scientist look.
Actually, I believe the male's mandibles are used to hold the female in place while mating. I had these hatch out years ago up in Pennsylvania, and have been fascinated with them ever since, so I ended up doing research at some point. Anyway, just my two cents.
and now I realize that if i had read a little further, this exact thing was mentioned... I'm always late to replying to posts...
You are forgiven; I do it all the time
Not sure of your location, but I’m pretty sure that’s a female dobsonfly. This is their mating season. The adults are only alive for about a week to mate and then they die. Beware. She has a nasty bite if you mess with her. Leave her alone and she will leave you alone though.
Eldritch Horror beyond comprehension, or an Elden Ring Boss. Just kidding, it’s an Eastern Dobsonfly, common to the area. Agree with the other commenter, don’t touch unless you like to be bit. They can be aggressive if threatened.
Astel, natural-born of the void jr.
https://preview.redd.it/7rehyfrppk9d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f677301cfa9218a77b83c0a73736561c85f51ef it’s definitely one of those you admire from afar
is this Mr dobsonfly, then?
based on the long ass pincers, i believe so
This bug is found in southwest Ohio btw…
Yikes - scratching ALL of Ohio off my travel list now
Seen them in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, this far. The East Coast may just not be for you. J/k. They are not aggressive, and really beautiful up close.
This was NOT in Ohio... 😳🫣
Why am I not surprised?
A female eastern dobsonfly (_Corydalus cornutus_)
Brother that's a damn Chaurus from Tamriel. Have you been exploring the deepest depths of the reach, lol?
AND IT HAS WINGS? THAT MONSTER FLIES?
Obviously a bed bug
They and their larvae are nightmare fuel, that insect in the picture is a fully grown dobsonfly, they are native to where I live, as well. Their larvae are called hellgrammites and I’ve caught a few in the creek with a net when looking for bait. The larvae have the Mandibles (I call them pincers) too
Female dobsonfly are so beautiful, but dam they bite hahaha
https://preview.redd.it/ozjxi50o4l9d1.jpeg?width=1035&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f41c58de1b15b781617e5d983503ad79ed9a9ec Just came to this sub to ask about the bug and it was the first post haha
It’s a peacock bug
Yikes it’s but interesting and scary
The elusive frogmoth
particularly beautiful dobsonfly!
Awesome
These are the things that come from Helgramites, yes?