Ok, i learned this one tonight, curious who knows what it is without looking it up. Dont cheat, i am sure someone will know the correct answer. Fly fishermen might know the larval stage of this and not know the actual adult which is pictured. The adult lives only a few weeks at most, but the larval stage can last several years. Crazy how messed up the insect world is, tho comparing to most humans these days we live most our lives in the childhood phase and rarely grow into adults….
For reference, the insect was at least 3” long according to my wife who took the pic.
Ok, i learned this one tonight, curious who knows what it is without looking it up. Dont cheat, i am sure someone will know the correct answer. Fly fishermen might know the larval stage of this and not know the actual adult which is pictured. The adult lives only a few weeks at most, but the larval stage can last several years. Crazy how messed up the insect world is, tho comparing to most humans these days we live most our lives in the childhood phase and rarely grow into adults….
For reference, the insect was at least 3” long according to my wife who took the pic.
If you think that life span is odd, mayflies die the same day they emerge from the lake.
Re: Insect ID without looking it up
[Re: bigsky]
#831270007/05/2111:47 AM
the one in the pic is a female....the males have drastically oversized mandibles. Although the males look more intimidating, its the females that pack the punch and have a bite that will draw blood. Lot of these in the hill country and along the Brazos river. Have actually seen one in my backyard in N.Tx recently.....and yes, the larve are some of the best fishing bait....but they bite too so careful.
the one in the pic is a female....the males have drastically oversized mandibles. Although the males look more intimidating, its the females that pack the punch and have a bite that will draw blood. Lot of these in the hill country and along the Brazos river. Have actually seen one in my backyard in N.Tx recently.....and yes, the larve are some of the best fishing bait....but they bite too so careful.
This.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill