Why It’s Good to Find ‘New York’s Most Alarming Insect’

Sharp-eyed New Yorkers might find a terrifying insect the next time they visit their favorite river. Even if they look like nightmare fuel, however, seeing one of these creepy crawlies should actually be celebrated.

There are two different types of "scary" insects: those that are actually dangerous (watch out for these intimidating "toe-biter" bugs at your next pool party), and those that just look terrifying. Somehow, the hellgrammite is a little of both.

Hellgrammites in New York State

First, the "bad" news. The aquatic hellgrammite, which will soon transform into the enormous dobsonfly, has large mandibles used for biting that can (and sometimes does) pierce human skin. Despite its minor threat to fingers, there's another reason why these insects are special.

 Why Hellgrammites are Helpful in New York State

As far as choosing a place to live, hellgrammites are pretty picky, and can only be found in water that is clean and contains plenty of oxygen. Similar to the century-old tactic of using a canary in a coal mine to test air quality, hellgrammites can be an excellent indicator of good water health.

Where to Find Hellgrammites in New York

Hellgrammites spend their lives in rivers and streams before heading to land where they will transform into Dobson flies, which means the easiest place to discover New York's "most alarming insect" is under rocks in shallow water. Check out some other impressive creatures below.