National Park Service Klamath Network Featured Creature U.S. Department of the Interior

Natural Resource Stewardship & Science Klamath Network Hellgrammite () February 2016

Field Notes that will mess with them (although anglers Orohermes crepusculus is common; do like to use them as fish bait). Their however, the (a fellow Author’s note: Alright. Hellgrammites are so aquatic residency lasts 3-5 years. They eat Megalopteran) is found in some of our incredible that I keep checking the KLMN continuously for that period and then enter other parks. In Oregon Caves, we found website to make sure we really haven’t a two-week pupal stage. smaller specimens which are written about them yet! likely Orohermes. As a taxonomic order, Their pupal stage is different from many they can be found across the northern and General Description other aquatic in that their mandibles southern hemispheres and are generally The name Hellgrammite refers to the larval and legs are still functional (in other words, more common in temperate than tropical. form of the Dobsonfly. are in they aren’t completely resting/sleeping like the Corydalidae family (Order a caterpillar). In an book from ). The origins of larval and the 1950s it is stated, “The mandibles… are adult names are unknown (certainly an functional so that when two pupae are intentional reference to Hell or Hades). placed together in the same container, only one survives.” (Chandler, 1956). These aquatic larvae can be large, up to 9 cm (3.5 inches). As a “fiercely predaceous Who knew that scientists in the 1950s were larvae,” they have large pincer mandibles playing “death match” with aquatic insects? (middle column photo). Their long abdomen is bordered by long filamentous gills that contribute to a remarkable hardiness in low oxygenated water for some Male Cordydalidae/adult Dobsonfly. Ahem. Note the (plus spiracles for air breathing). mandibles. Photo Credit: T. Duckworth, www.ent.iastate.edu They can also swim using a snake-like movement. Side note – If you go to China, they have the world’s largest aquatic ; a Megalopteran with a 21 cm (>8 inches) wingspan! Hellgrammite head. Photo: Andrew Williams, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/running Critterzone.com. -ponies/world-s-largest-aquatic-insect­ The adult stage is short lived, with most reportedly-found-in-china/. mouthparts so soft that they probably Did you know? couldn’t eat if they wanted to. They also have a limited digestive tract. That aquatic insects entered the world of ? In a 1968 Superman comic, Nonetheless the adults are still impressive! Superman battles an entomologist… who The males of certain species (not found in goes by the evil name of Hellgrammite! In a the Klamath Network) retain their large later comic, the alias of the scientist is Hellgrammite in Whiskeytown. Photo: H. Rudolph mandibles, which are almost as large as Robert Dobson… (as in Dobsonfly?). Alas, their abdomen (top right photo). Although the mutated form of Robert Dobson Hellgrammites are common in a variety of the mandibles cannot open wide enough to resembles a grasshopper and not a true aquatic habitats, but prefer cobble strewn bite or pinch, they are relevant in sexual Hellgrammite. stream substrates. Some species can be selection and are used to battle over found in ephemeral streams that only flow females. Final author’s note: Oh, and I get this four months of the year. about them all the time. “Do Where to See Hellgrammites bite?” And I reply with an Life Cycle Hellgrammites and Dobsonflies can be emphatic, Hellgrammites are a long-lived predator in found in Whiskeytown and Redwood the water. As they grow, there isn’t much “YES, they bite!” National and State Parks. The large EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM February 23, 2016