Riddells Creek - Dobsonflies and Alderflies
(click on the name or the picture for a larger/better picture)

	Common Name	Scientific Name (Family)
1	Unknown (probably Dobsonfly)	Unknown (Corydalidae - probably)

Dobsonflies and Alderflies are insects that make up the Order Megaloptera. There are only 26 species
known in Australia. It is visually very difficult to work out the difference between these insects and
others such as Antlions (lacewings) and Stoneflies. We could be wrong but the distinguishing features
of the above insect are: lack of forking venation at the tip of wings and the presence of markings
on the wings. Dobsonflies (Family Corydalidae) have a wingspan more than 30mm, Alderflies (Family
Sialidae) less than 30mm.

A good general book about insects, covering Dobsonflies and Alderflies, is
"A Field Guide to Insects in Australia" by Paul Zborowski & Ross Storey.

More about Insects & other Invertebrate classes.

We'd like to acknowledge Wendy Moore for their help in identifying the insects
on this page.

If you've seen a Dobsonfly or Alderfly in Riddells Creek that isn't on this list
please let us know ... we'd love to add it to our list.

All photos are taken in Riddells Creek. If you have photos taken in Riddells Creek
and would like to submit them, send them to Russell & Gill Best.

All photos ©Riddells Creek Landcare or Photographer.

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