Did you see only adult females, and not adult males, and not the "hellgrammite" larvae in water?

The larval stage is three years; such a long life-cycle could explain population extremes from one year to the next.

Dobsonflies are everywhere except the Rocky Mountains.

Wow, I didn't know the larval stage was three years. I see what you're saying.

I also didn't know they were everywhere except the Rocky Mountains. I'd never seen them before. It was scary at first :)

OK....I was just getting ready to post these pics for identification...but your post caught my attention...
I have never seen these guys before, but they are always at my porch light the past few weeks.
They are rather intimidating...at least I know what they are now and why I haven't seen them before...must have been perfect conditions...
{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}

I rather miss them. I'd like to see them so I can get some pictures, also.

They are intimidating. The females (the only ones I've encountered) are viscious. They don't mess around :)

We discovered one this evening in Jamestown, Oh. We are about an hour north of Cincinnati. I'm assuming it came from the creek behind our house.

Had a female dobsonfly trapped in the water in our bird bath this morning. Fished it out with a minnow net and released. Very creepy. Harrison, Ohio