The male's lengthy ornamental mandibles are used in breeding and defense. Rest assured, the males are harmless, but they will get your attention. It's the female dobsonfly you should be careful with.

Claim to fame: The eastern dobsonfly is a very obvious insect that has a not-so-obvious connection with one of the Ozarks’ favorite pastimes — fishing. Sightings of this creature, one of the ...

It’s a male dobsonfly pictured with this column. A group of us were engaged in nocturnal field work at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary in Highland County on June 26.

— -- The largest recorded aquatic insect in the world was found in China. Measuring at eight inches in wingspan and with a giant set of mandibles at its head, the flying dobsonfly is roughly ...

The Dobsonfly mostly settles near flowing streams to provide a habitat for its offspring. ... The mandibles on the male are only used for mating purposes; they cannot bite with them.” ...

“The male won’t hurt you at all, as you can see the male has these large mandibles. The female on the other hand can break the skin if she bites.