The Dobsonfly - Have You Seen This Thing?

Transplanted Martinez native Robert Reich recently posted a photo on Facebook of an insect that looks more like a mid-sized bird. It caught our attention, so I emailed him and asked permission to post the shot for our readers.

Reich said it would be fine, and provided with a couple of links to explain just what this thing is. It's a dobsonfly. Fortunately, it doesn't live on the west coast - Reich now lives in Tennessee, where these things are apparently creepily common

They can grow to be up to one foot long - with bodies up to five inches and wingspans more than twice as long. In the larvea stage, they live underwater and can bite.

In addition to their relatively large size, the female Dobsonfly can reportedly use her large pincers to bite hard enough to draw blood. So they're creepy and dangerous. Or at least scary.

Say what you will about earthquakes -- at least they don't fly and bite.