Photo: Geoff Gallice

One of the insects I wish we had in our pond is dobsonflies. When I first learned the insect orders, the dobsonflies were lumped with the lacewings. Now they’ve got their very own order–Megaloptera. So, of course, since they have their own order, they need their own poem!

Megaloptera, helgrammite!
Known as toebiters.
When larvae bite

Adults are gentler,
Though they still look fierce
Their scimitar jaws
Are too weak to pierce.

Massive jaws
And flashing wing
Woo the ladies
But don’t catch a thing.