# What kind of insect is this?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/968629>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 27, 2022, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/968629 "2022-07-27T02:01:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/968629/1 "2022-07-27T02:01:24Z")

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Here in SE Michigan, I find these hanging around on my front porch a lot in the morning:

[![](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tWBLPkb/1/0b64fcbb/O/i-tWBLPkb.jpg) ](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tWBLPkb/1/0b64fcbb/O/i-tWBLPkb.jpg)

This is a good 2 inches long.

Anyone know what this is?

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/968629/2 "2022-07-27T02:09:44Z")

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Google Lens suggested chauliodes pectinicornis.  
[![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Chauliodes_rastricornis_P1490902a.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Chauliodes_rastricornis_P1490902a.jpg)

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/968629/3 "2022-07-27T02:30:52Z")

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> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> chauliodes pectinicornis

Good searching there.

Aka Summer fishfly. Or many related species of the subfamily **Chauliodinae**. I cannot guarantee it is that species, some look very alike.

They do get quite large. They like to eat polliwogs and really small fish.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insect-is-this/968629/4 "2022-07-27T11:08:53Z")

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> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Google Lens

I had forgot this was available. Thanks for reminding me, and thanks for putting a name to this critter.