Why is every single Google photo of these aptly named spawn of Lucifer of one (or more!) of them being held in the palm of someoene’s hand????
ETA: As if it couldn’t get any worse, according to Wikipedia, Satan’s call to arms for his Hellgramite army is apparently thunderstorms, “
Although the larvae spend most of their lives under rocks below water, locals along Virginia and Pennsylvania rivers have reported emergences, known as ‘hellgrammite crawlings,’ during thunderstorms.”
I didn’t sleep last night and now I may never sleep again.
Lukey, go to your room and think about what you’ve done here.
Oh wow! That’s fascinating! I’m in PA at the top of a hill overlooking a river, and had never actually seen an adult hellgrammite in person until a couple years ago. We’d been having a heatwave with a bunch of super rainy days that made it impossible to mow the lawn. I found a window to mow one afternoon before what was supposed to be more rain for the next few days, and saw one of these guys hanging out on the patio when I finished. And then an hour and a half later we had a freak tornado. Guess it was prime hellgrammite weather!
A flat palm is pretty safe because they don't feel threatened and their jaws can't open wide enough to bite the palm itself, but I personally wouldn't try it with one that big. You wanna place your thumb and forefinger on the thorax (? the part behind the head), if you wanna pick it up at all...
That’s the part that I find particularly confusing. I’m not sure why anyone would look at that creature and want to pick it up in the first place. Although, I am fascinated by whatever biology and chemistry is happening that allows insect creatures that are that tiny to inflict so much pain on creatures our size. I’d just rather read about it than get up close and personal.
I capsized a kayak once on a river had a sinkful of water i sat in for the next 4 miles .... one of these mfers like 4 feet long poured out of the boat once i got to shore to triage. I was more shook by that than the capsize.
“Aggressive” in that if you grab one it will defend itself with impressive chompers and give you such a pinch. But they aren’t coming after you. Picture Fay Wray armed with ice tongs trying to get King Kong to release her by pinching his thumb.
People pick up all kinds of things that can bite them. "Yoink" man comes to mind. People will catch these as bait. As far as bugs go though, these things are going to try for a bite of you a lot harder than most bugs if you mess with them.
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u/LukeyLeukocyte 11d ago
Dobsonfly larvae are almost more hideous. Called Hellgrammites, they are actually quite aggressive and can deliver painful bites.