A scary-looking bug just showed up in Birmingham but don’t worry, it’s probably already dying
He's pretty big for a bug, but once he grows up, this creature stops eating and biting. Mostly.
Mason Reed 
If you have spent time in east Birmingham recently, particularly around Roebuck or Crestwood South, you might have crossed paths with an insect that looks like it flew straight out of a horror movie. With veiny wings and menacing, powerful-looking jaws, this visitor is enough to make anyone do a double-take, especially if you aren't near the water.
Meet the Eastern Dobsonfly
Despite their terrifying appearance, these insects—known as Eastern Dobsonflies—are much less dangerous than they look. According to Sarah Vallie of WebMD, these creatures are among the largest insects in the U.S., boasting wingspans that can reach 5.5 inches and bodies up to 3 inches long. They primarily inhabit areas near moving water like streams and rivers.
Male dobsonflies are the ones sporting those long, intimidating mandibles. While they look like tools of destruction, they are actually used for self-defense or to hold onto females during mating. They generally have no interest in using them on you. Female dobsonflies have shorter mandibles, though Chesapeakebay.net notes they are capable of biting humans under certain circumstances.
The Real River Monster
While the adult stage of the dobsonfly is short-lived, their earlier phase is where the true ferocity lies. Before they take flight, these insects spend up to three years as larvae known as hellgrammites. These aquatic predators are armed with strong jaws and hooks on their legs to anchor them in rushing water. Their diet consists of pretty much anything they can catch, leading some, like Instagram creator Benkedonny, to label them the real river monster.
Hellgrammites are so formidable that even DC Comics created a supervillain based on the hellgrammite. However, the circle of life catches up to them quickly; they often serve as bait for fish, and the adult dobsonflies—which only survive for a few days—are frequently hunted by birds.
So, if you spot one of these strange-looking guests on your property, there is no need to panic. The odds are that this scary-looking bug is already nearing the end of its life cycle.
