Insects that swarm towards the light can be bothersome, which is a common occurrence in homes near bodies of water. There are many different kinds of insects that do this, and one of them is the eastern dobsonfly.
Dobsonflies are aquatic insects characterized by their large wings and curved, sickle-shaped jaws to protect against predators. Dobsonfly larvae, also known as hellgrammites, are the top invertebrate predator.
Learn more about these pests below and how to get rid of them.
Dobsonflies: Getting to Know Them
These insects have a long cylindrical body with short legs. The most notable characteristic of male dobsonflies is their well-developed mandibles. While it may look intimidating, they are harmless. On the other hand, the females have smaller and sharper pincers that can pierce through the skin.
There are nine different genera of dobsonflies. The dobsonflies of the variety Corydalus are among the most prominent non-lepidopteran insects. They have membranous bodies that span about 1.9 to 2.4 inches. Their large wings can completely cover the entire length of their body, often spanning 3.9 to 5.5 inches. They have long, segmented antennae.
They begin their life as dobsonfly eggs. After hatching, they develop underwater and live up to three years while living in between rocks at the river bed. They often feed on small insects, immature mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and chironomid midges.
Dobsonfly larvae have pale-looking gill filaments and gill clusters at the lateral side of their abdomens. Mature dobsonfly larvae move from their freshwater home to areas with more moisture, like moss or wet soil, to enter their pupal stage, after which they come out as an adult.
Since small fish feed on dobsonflies, they are commonly sold as fish baits. They are also an important indicator of the environmental health of the streams they occur in since they have a high tolerance to water pollution.
Inspect for Dobsonflies
Dobsonflies are often in high concentration in areas near bodies of water. But eastern dobsonfly adults can also be present in areas where there is standing water. When there’s an infestation, the first place to inspect is outdoors.
When checking, a key way to detect where they could be is to think about what attracts adult dobsonflies: light and water. They would breed in water, and they would swarm to light. So check your porch, garage, backyard, patios, and driveways for any standing water or areas with excess moisture. Since they typically stay between rocks, moving rocks in gardens and ponds is also a must.
Another telling sign of dobsonfly presence is the irritating, foul-smelling anal spray they usually release to defend against predators and enemies.
How to Control Dobsonfly Infestation
As soon as the presence of dobsonfly has been established, the next step is to control its infestation using the right treatment. Before using chemical pest products, read the labels to see if they are effective. It’s also good to see if the insecticide covers against dobsonfly larvae food. Once their food source is eliminated, these aquatic insects will no longer have reason to swarm in those identified areas.
Check out this week’s insect and pest product reviews to know the top recommendation that others used to control dobsonfly infestation in their area.
When using an insecticide, make sure to apply it correctly. The best way is to cover the identified places and the surrounding area to repel insects more completely.
Pro-Tip
After resolving the Dobsonfly problem, make sure they won’t return. Making sure all outdoor lighting fixtures are off will prevent the spread of Dobsonflies.
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