The dobsonfly is an insect often found near water, with well developed wings and long antennae. The jaws of the male dobsonfly are modified into long, curved, piercing organs, about three times as long as the head, which are used to hold the female in mating.
Females have smaller mouthparts and lay their eggs in nickel sized masses on tree leaves.
When the larvae hatch, they drop into the water, to the steam bottom where they feed on aquatic insects. Dobsonfly larvae are often used as fish bait.