A Dobsonfly Away From Water. The Adult Form of a Hellgrammite.

Dobsonflies have a pretty fascinating life cycle. It all starts when female dobsonflies lay clusters of eggs on objects close to streams or rivers. These egg masses are often covered with a clear substance that hardens and turns white, providing some protection to the eggs.

Once the eggs hatch, the larvae, known as hellgrammites, begin their life in the water. These hellgrammites are quite the predators, feeding on other aquatic insects and even small fish. They have impressive mandibles that help them catch their prey and tracheal gills that allow them to breathe underwater.

The larvae stage lasts for a few years, during which they grow and molt several times. When they're ready to transform into adults, they leave the water and find a safe spot on land to pupate. The pupal stage is relatively short, about two weeks, during which they undergo a dramatic transformation.

Emerging as adults, dobsonflies are quite striking with their large wings and, in males, long mandibles that are mainly used to impress and compete for females. The adult stage, however, is brief, typically lasting only a few days to a couple of weeks, just long enough to mate and lay eggs to continue the cycle.