Jackie
I assume you read the comment section of this page. You will also find more information at this website. It also lists some sources for more info. If you live near any clean water...it is not unusual to see this insect in Maine.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/4873
weird bug by: Jackie Petell
We found the same bug in Augusta Maine, does anyone know more about it?? I have never seen it before and we were thinking it was here because its been so hot, so if anyone has any info let me know.
female dobsonfly by: Moni
Andy
Your insect is a female dobsonfly.
The females do not have the long 'pinchers' that the males do, but can bite or pinch more effectively than the males.
These insects are found near fast flowing streams so there must be one near by. The adults come to lights at night. Adults do not feed.
Larvae are aquatic predators, living in streams. Two-three years are spent in larval stage, at end of this time larvae crawl out of stream and form a pupal cell under a log, rock, etc. and then overwinter. Adults emerge spring to summer.
These are found thru out the eastern half of North America.
