Male Dobsonfly

5736  Bug for identification please. July 24, 2016. Brant County, Ontario. Lister.

This is a male eastern dobsonfly Corydalus cornutus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae); Their long, forceps-like mandibles apparently are used primarily in courtship, they have little leverage and are incapable of inflicting more than a light pinch to humans skin. On the other hand, the much shorter mandibles of the female (see no. 5735) are very strong, and their bite can draw blood. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.