Megaloptera

Megaloptera, from the Greek words mega, meaning large, and ptera, meaning wing, is an order of insects containing alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies. It is sometimes considered a suborder of Neuroptera. Members of Megaloptera undergo complete metamorphosis, and their aquatic larvae dwell in fresh water, around which the adults also live. Females lay their eggs in large masses on vegetation that is proximate to water. The larvae are carnivorous, possessing strong jaws that they use to capture other aquatic insects. They grow slowly, taking several years to reach the last larval stage. When they reach maturity, the larvae crawl out onto land to pupate in damp soil or under logs. The short-lived adults emerge later to mate - many species never feed as adults, living only a few days or hours. The most well-known of the Megaloptera is probably the dobsonfly, which have tusk-like mandibles - the males especially are formidable in appearance yet are relatively harmless to humans. Hellgrammites, which are dobsonfly larvae, are often used for bait.

Related Topics:
Greek - Insects - Alderflies - Dobsonflies - Fishflies - Suborder - Neuroptera - Complete metamorphosis - Larvae - Hellgrammite

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There are about 300 known species.

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