Chauliodes rastricornis
FISHFLY FAMILY (Corydalidae)

Description
The Spring Fishfly adult is about .75 to 1.50 inches in length, not including wings. The wings are long and brown with lace-like veining. The males have pectinate or comb-like antennae. The females have bead-like antennae. This fishfly was identified by expert volunteers at the BugGuide website.

Occurrence
The frequency of occurrence at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known. The adult shown here was photographed at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in late May. They are apparently attracted to artificial light.

Comments
The larva lives in mainly still waters of ponds and swamps and are called hellgrammites by fishermen. They are predacious and use long, hoselike retractable “tails” like snorkels. The mature larvae leave the water and make a pupal chamber usually under bark. The pupae resemble adults with incompletely developed wings and functional mandibles. (“Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity,” Stephen A. Marshall).

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