The Joys of Nature
Aug 02 2005, 17:42 EDT [updated Aug 02 2005, 20:07 EDT]
Ooops This isn't a mayfly after all. I was mislead by this picture. A fly fishing reader writes that this is a Eastern Dobsonsfly (thanks Alberto). The description "The Eastern Dobsonfly is a ferocious looking creature" is certainly dead on. And those big antenea sticking out the front? Mandibles!.
If you don't like bugs .. well, it is already too late. Here is a picture of a monster Mayfly spotted in NH (click the picture for a larger version).
No one even thought it was a Mayfly (I looked it up later), the thing was just HUGE. Bug sites put the max size for these creatures at between 25mm (1 inch) up to 30mm (1.2 inches). 1.2 Inches?! That sucker is spanning a playing card. Our women wailed and the less brave men justified their flight with fears of the creature spitting acid in their eyes. Granted we had been drinking for a while at that point ... hence the playing card as a reference for the shot.