What is it?

[Dr Alan]

OK. A Saturday night boredom contest. Person who correctly identifies this wicked big bug, which is common in North America, gets my personal congratulations and a free consultation of the Ask the Vet forum! :lol: It's about 8cm long and the mandibles are about 2cm.
http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL212/1939938/3747516/106467250.jpg

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL212/1939938/3747516/106467230.jpg

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL212/1939938/3747516/106467266.jpg

[alexhue]

damn it...we have those suckers here in Michigan and I cant for the life of me rememeber what the heck they're called :oops:

[bassett524]

first time I saw one of those I was about 10, it scared teh crap out of me and I refused to go back outside.. I ahve no clue what they're called but they're here in indiana too.

[rebajoe]

Hi Doc Alan, now THAT is an ugly bug!!! I used to be married to a man that I would help look for this bugs' larvae under rocks in swift running streams...he called them helldammits...redneck for hellgrammites...I always thought they were disgusting...never really been a bug person, and I do well to herd my meal worm colony around!

When Hellgrammites grow up they look like your ugly bug and are called (I think...) Dobsinflies...I don't think the flies can bite you bad. but I know the larvae can bite the p...I got bit by one once...couldn't even shake that sucker off.

If I'm right, I will thank you for your congrats and will still owe ya for several non-free questions that I have already previously posted on 'ask the vet'!!! Am I close? L8R, Rj

[Dr Alan]

RJ wins the prize!

It is a Dobson Fly, the fierce looking reproductive phase of a hellgramite.
This large-pincered one is a male, but the adults do not eat and the mandibles are used only for mating. The males' are so big that they can't even bite defensively. Female Dobson Flys have smaller jaws and can inflict painful bites. They only live for a few days after pupating into this form. They are scary looking, but really pretty innocous.

[Dr Alan]

PS. My oldest son Jesse, who is the chef at an upscale eatery near the Kennebec River here in Waterville, brought "Fangs" home for his little brothers after finding it behind the restaurant yesterday. My first comment was that he should've cooked it and served it to someone.

[rebajoe]

Thanks, Doc Alan...This guy is fierce looking...the
ones under the rocks were really creepy lookin' (to me...)
a whole bunch of squirmy legsand really strong pincher things...
I mostly just held the container to put them in... I don't do bugs... yock

...L8R, Rj

By the way, really good clear pics!

[CornCrazy]

Congratulatons rebajoe! I guess we don't have those things down here...or at least I've never seen one. I did not have a clue where to start looking for the identification of it, either.