Adult bass also feed on large insect larvae that live on the bottom, notably the
hellgrammite, a larval dobsonfly that reaches 4 inches and inhabits flowing waters with gravelly substrate.
We collected nymphs of stoneflies (Perlodidae) and larval
hellgrammite (Corydalidae) from four sites in the Gila River, New Mexico, in February and June during 2008-2010.
Dobsonfly - The adult form of the aquatic
hellgrammite. Dobsonflies have a wingspan of up to five inches, but are awkward fliers.
Food habits of
hellgrammite larvae, Corydalus cornutus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae), in the Brazos River, Texas.
Hellgrammites live under rocks in shallow, fast-moving water.
Dobsonflies spend most of their 2- to 5-year lives as freshwater larvae called
hellgrammites. These voracious underwater predators have strong, pinching jaws to help capture and eat aquatic insects, insect larvae, small fish and amphibians.
Foods of the Blue Sucker consist of aquatic insects (trichopteran larvae and pupa and mayfly larvae), a variety of small benthic invertebrates (
hellgrammites, amphipods, and fingernail clams), and some filamentous algae (Rupprecht & Jahn 1980; Moss et al.
Almost two-thirds of the
hellgrammites (Corydalus cornutus) from a Tennessee stream carried chironomids (Furnish et al., 1981).
The macroinvertebrate community in the mainstream of the Pigeon River commonly includes stoneflies (Taeniopterigidae), mayflies (Leptophlebiidae, Heptageniidae), caddisflies (Limnephilidae, Hydropsychidae, Phryganeidae, Polycentropodidae, Phil-opotamidae), amphipods (Gammaridae), isopods (Asellidae), black flies (Simuliidae), midges (Chironomidae), other Diptera (Athericidae, Culici-dae, Tabanidae, Tipulidae), true bugs (Belostomatidae, Corixidae, Gerridae, Nepidae, Notonectidae, Veliidae), water beetles (Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Hydrophilidae), dragon flies (Anisoptera), damsel flies (Coena-grionidae)T
hellgrammites (Corydalidae), alderflies (Sialidae), and crayfish (Decapoda).