The Dobson Fly

We’d just sat down to enjoy our White Duck tacos by a river…the French Broad when we were happily surprised by the beauty of nature…surprised and a bit awed. For the biggest insect we ever saw…from him our eyes we couldn’t avert. decided quite suddenly to land upon my shirt. Since this insect was new to us…and obviously not shy we decided to google it and discovered he was a Dobson fly. It wasn’t just for knowledge that we googled this bug who seemed so anxious to meet me… I was particularly interested in…because I didn’t want him to eat me. “It’s a Dobson fly!” I told people who noticed him as to my shirt this humongous fly adhered Some of them smiled….some of them gasped…some recoiled in fear. “Do not worry about me.” I said, “He’s only eats aquatic insects and the occasional small fish he finds along the shore…. “Yes,” a science teacher who happened by agreed, “But that does make them carnivores.” “They are the largest aquatic insects in the world.” The teacher continued. “And here’s another tip…” But I had quit listening to her teachings because I swear that fly was licking his lips.” Yes, that Dobson fly was not moving…he seemed content to wait… Which made men wonder was it me that he was interested in eating… or the tacos on my plate. I didn’t want to find out…which one of us would be his prey…. so I walked him to the river…set him on a leaf…then quickly walked away. If I had waited perhaps I’d discover something no entomologist ever knew… that Dobson flies like tacos…and I’d be living proof they do.