What kind of critter is this?

Deschutes River, Warm Springs area, late June 2012

ive seen those before. weird lil things

That's a cool fly its amazing how wonderful our Mother Earth is

Thanks Taxon! Some good info in that link. The common name is okay, but not quite as cool as what I dubbed them: "flying giraffe ant." I knew it wasn't an ant but it does have an ant-like head.

I always thought they looked like the inspiration for the Klingon Bird of Prey.



I don't know much about them except they are Megaloptera and like most others of that Order are predatory. If you've ever been pinched by a Hellgramite, also Megaloptera, you know they can have an attitude.

Trapper, Klingon was going to be my answer.

I see those in this area quite often. Always wondered if the fish pay them any attention.

I dated a girl once who was getting her doctorate in entomology. Brought this thing home and asked her what it was. She says "it's a bug". Really stretched the education there, she did!