Originating from the Ancient Greek for “large” and “winged,” the Megaloptera are known for their sometimes large and formidable appearance. Their chewing mouthparts and elongated, slightly flattened bodies make them excellent underwater predators. While seven to eight lateral filaments along the abdomen may give the appearance of many more than their six legs, there is only six true legs present. The order can be split into 2 key families: the Corydalidae (the dobsonflies and fishflies) and the Sialidae (the alderflies). Nicknamed “hellgrammites,” the larvae of dobsonflies and fishflies more commonly inhabit lotic habitats in fast-moving waters in river and streams, and they can be distinguished by seven to eight pairs of lateral filaments along the abdomen and two short, spiny prolegs at the end of the abdomen. Larvae of the generally smaller alderflies, meanwhile, are most commonly found in standing or slow-moving waters, exhibit seven pairs of lateral filaments, and have a single long single filament at the end of the abdomen.