Corydalus

Corydalus
Corydalus cornutus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Megaloptera
Family: Corydalidae
Subfamily: Corydalinae
Genus: Corydalus
Linnaeus, 1758
Species
see text

Corydalus is a genus of large flying insects in the Corydalidae family, commonly known as dobsonflies. They are endemic to North, Central and South America and there are about 35 known species. Members of the genus have wing lengths of up to 85 millimetres. They are sexually dimorphic, with the males having large mandibles used to grasp the females during mating while the females have smaller jaws. The larvae are known as hellgrammites and are aquatic predators.[1][2]

Etymology

Corydalus (also transcribed corydalis) comes from the Greek (κορυδαλλις) meaning a crested lark or the flower, larkspur, apparently related to Greek corys (κορυς) a helmet crest.[3] The name probably refers to the long mandibles of the male which might be considered to resemble the crest of a lark, or perhaps, the decorative crests of a helmet.[2]

Species

[4] [5]

References

  1. ↑ DigiMorph
  2. 1 2 BugGuide
  3. ↑ Borror, D. J. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms, Mayfield Publishing Company, 1960. ISBN 0-87484-053-8, Cite: 20598
  4. ↑ Encyclopedia of Life
  5. ↑ Tree of Life Web Project
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