Megalopteran and Neuropteran

Lay eggs in water to protect from predators

10 to 11 instars

Length of time within Larvae and instars 1 to 4 years

Have formattable mandibles

After the last instar, they leave the water and crawl till they encounter rock and burrow under and form into pupal.

14-21 days till complete Pupal stage.

Non-aggressive

Active during night

Use their mandibles to hold female in place when mating

Occur over edges of lakes

Temporary streams

Body size is between 20 to 90 mm

Lateral Filaments

Gill tufts

Filaments only function when out of the water

Respiratory tubes

Function when oxygen content is low

Pair of terminal proleg

terminal hooks or claws

Scorpion (conspicuous) like terminal filament

Lateral Filament

Emerge in mid-spring

Yellowish amber-like Thorax

Some emerge far away from shore to pupae

They supplemental food source for invertebrates

They can be used as a natural biocontrol for bugs that damage a garden.

Feeding stylets used to pierce the skin of animals and suck th flood.

Adult oviposit over water - on vegetation

Naugatuck River, Thomaston

Develop a prepupae stage and develop over winter

Breath through cuticle region

Preyed upon during pupae stages