A dobsonfly larva, a.k.a. ‘hellgramite’ (order Megaloptera, family Corydalidae) crosses the road. Thanks to Dragonflywoman for the ID.
Brazil, São Paulo State, Mid-Atlantic Forest between São Paulo and Guarujá.
A dobsonfly larva, a.k.a. ‘hellgramite’ (order Megaloptera, family Corydalidae) crosses the road. Thanks to Dragonflywoman for the ID.
Brazil, São Paulo State, Mid-Atlantic Forest between São Paulo and Guarujá.
Okay, so I can’t see the back of the bug and this might be a stupid question because I can’t see a part I’d like to see, but how do you know this is a carabid and not a hellgrammite? I ask because hellgrammites are known to crawl around on land on occasion, are that size, and those long filaments along the side coupled with the shape of the head just scream hellgrammite to me.
Er, I think you’re right! That’ll teach me to go with first impressions without really following up – thanks!
Woo, hellgrammites! A big one out on the road like that is not a very normal thing to see, so great capture! Now I’m wondering why the hellgrammite was crossing the road… (That sounds like the start of a bad joke, but I’m genuinely curious about what it was doing out like that!)
It was near one of the big landslides near rushing water. It might have gotten stranded when the water backed up onto the road and then receded.
Hellgrammites are known to abandon streams for land when there’s a likelihood of flooding and the water starts to rise. If there was rushing water neaby, that could explain it!
I LOVE this picture regardless of what it is, by the way! I’m all for the large, scary looking insects and this one definitely qualifies. 🙂