Dobsonfly

Dobsonflies are a subfamily of insects, Corydalinae, part of the Megalopteran family Corydalidae. The larvae (commonly called hellgrammites) are aquatic, living in streams, and the adults are often found along streams as well. The nine genera of dobsonflies are distributed in the Americas, Asia, and South Africa.

==Etymology== The origin of the word "dobsonfly" is unclear. The term was in common use by at least 1878, as the records from the annual meeting of the Entomological Club of the American Association for the Advancement of Science that year contain:"In discussion it was stated that the somewhat peculiar name of the 'Hellgrammite Fly' for the Corydalis had been for many years in common use both on the Upper and Lower Mississippi and that the equally curious name of 'Dobson' was given to its larva, which was largely used for bait by the river fishermen."During this time there were also many more vernacular names for the larva. Below is a chart which shows some of the names in circulation and their locations in 1883, as heard from fishermen. {| class="wikitable" |+ !Name !Location Documented |- |Dobson |Popular Use |- |Helgramite |Popular Use |- |The Crawler |Janesville, WI |- |Dam-worm |Fox and Rock Rivers, WI |- |The Andy |Fulton, NY |- |Black Crabs |Fulton, NY |- |White Crabs |Fulton, NY |- |Flying Crabs |Fulton, NY |- |Scrabbles |Broome County, NY |- |Molly-Grubs |Broome County, NY |- |Black Worms |Schenectady, NY |- |Flying Worms |Schenectady, NY |- |Stone Crab |Milford, NY |- |Sand Crab |Milford, NY |- |Hell Devils |Monroe, NY |- |The Dragon |Schoharie, NY |- |Clipper |Port Jervis, NY Honesdale, PA |- |Conniption Bugs |Towanda, PA |- |Bogart |Portland, PA |- |Crawler |Perkiomen, PA |- |Ho Jack |Carlisle, PA Pond Eddy, PA |- |Devil Catchers |Wyalusing, PA |- |Snake Doctor |Hanover, PA |- |Hiltamites |Tulpehocken Dam, PA |- |Alugmites |Tulpehocken Dam, PA |- |Stone Climber |Schuylkill River, PA |- |Clipper Bug |Schuylkill River, PA |- |The Devil |Hazleton, PA |- |Water Grampus |Lambertville, NJ |- |Goggle Goy |Tumble, NJ |- |Black Crab |Belvidere, NJ |- |Crock |Interior of NJ |- |Red Crab |Raleigh, NC |- |Yellow Crab |Raleigh, NC |- |Hell Divers |Raleigh, NC |- |Devil Catcher |*location not given* |- |Dobsill |*location not given* |- |Hell-Lion |*location not given* |- |Kill-Devil |*location not given* |}