Streambed Godzilla: the giant stonefly
We’re finding that this summer’s floods—caused by the 2nd highest rainfall since records have been kept (h/t Gazette)—have reduced the populations of large benthic macroinvertebrates (water bugs).
It came as joyous surprise, then, to find this streambed godzilla, a giant stonefly:
giant stonefly 10/18/11
We are supposed to kill the bugs we collect (in alcohol) so that we have proof that we collected what we say we collected. But, I could not kill this beautiful creature, the largest I’ve ever touched. We took this pic, and threw it back into the water:
May it flourish, and come spring climb out of the water, sprout wings, fly, fall in love, have babies and then provide food for hungry fish or birds.
giant stonefly husk (courtesy of Phil Gates)
ready to fly (courtesy of Phil Gates)
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