The wonder of the fishfly

I was spending some quality time relaxing in my zero-gravity lawn chair with Briar, my little English cocker, resting by my side. My attention was split between my book, napping, and nearby oriole and hummingbird feeders. The birds were making their late-afternoon visits, and the light was just fading enough that reading had become more of a chore and dipping into dreamland was not. Closely buzzing hummers kept me somewhat alert. It was during one of those drifting moments that something flitted over my face, causing me to jump, which likewise brought Briar to full attention. A large bug had passed over my nose and was headed toward the dusk-to-dawn light that had snapped to life. At first glance, it looked like a cross between a strange, elongated moth and a dragonfly. My second thought was that it may be the odd-looking dobsonfly, but I quickly recognized that wasn't it. What it did appear to be was something a large fish would love to grab for an evening dinner … a real fish's fly. That's when it hit me: this was a fishfly! I really wasn't far off when I thought the big bug looked like a dobson. Along with alderflies, the dobsonfly is the fishfly's closest relative in the insect world. Instead of the male dobsonfly's big choppers (scientifically called mandibles), the fishfly males have feathery antennae similar to many moths. Their flight seems to be a disorganized attempt at mating the aerodynamics of an airplane, a helicopter and an out-of-control gyroscope. They just don't seem to have the skill related to the science that nature gave them to get airborne. Their large size seems to exasperate their aerial attempts. Unlike mayflies, which are much smaller and usually live for a day or less, fishflies are large, with a wingspan of 2.5 to 3 inches. They'll eat aquatic plants and animals, including vertebrates, but are harmless to the rest of us. They may live up to seven days as adults, and their presence is a good indicator of water quality. They lay their eggs upon vegetation overhanging streams and, once hatched, the larvae drops into the water. When they transform into pupae, they crawl out upon the bank and hide in cavities beneath stones or under tree bark. They're most noticed at night during late spring and summer. Adults are drawn to lights, which explained the late afternoon visit that disturbed Briar and me during our bird watching. While its lifespan is several years, most of that time is spent as larvae, which look a lot like hellgrammites (dobsonfly larvae), just not quite as large. I'd lay odds that smallmouth bass enjoy their temporary company no matter what stage of their development. If you're a Scrabble player, work crosswords or are planning to enter a spelling bee in the future, here is a great game saver. In entomological usage, if you're spelling a true fly – horse, deer, flower, blue-bottle, etc. – the words are separate: house fly. The other "flies" – butter, dragon, damsel, May, fire, caddis, stone, etc. – are spelled as one word: fishfly. "Flies are the price we pay for summer." – Ann Zwinger Along the way Birds and Blooms Magazine has given us some advice for a few bee-loving plants that could be added to your landscape. In case you've missed it, honeybees have been declared the most important wild animal on the planet. They're responsible for pollinating everything from weeds to every growing thing in your pantry. For our zone 6 of the recommended planting areas, here are their recommendations: Catmint, Nepeta x faassenii: Look for varieties that don't reseed and take over the garden. You'll be rewarded with blue flowers that top silvery foliage all season. One cut midseason will keep this heat- and drought-tolerant plant looking its best. Calendula, Calendula officinalis: You may also know this edible flower as pot marigold. The yellowish white and orange petals were once used to flavor soups and stews. This plant reseeds, providing years of beauty. Bee balm, Monarda: A favorite of not only bees, but also hummingbirds and butterflies. This vigorous plant reseeds readily, but the fragrant leaves provide a bit of aromatherapy when thinning in spring. The leaves can be steeped to make tea. Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia: Full sun and well-drained soil are keys to its success. One of its appeals: the leaves and flowers are fragrant. Lavender's silvery leaves will persist in mild winters, adding to the winter garden's beauty. Deer and rabbits tend to leave this plant alone. Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea: Foxglove is a great option for those gardeners with shady spaces and moist, organic soils. Biennial, foxglove reseeds and tends to stay in the garden for years. To these them every year, plant two years in a row. Crocus, Crocus: Grow these small early bloomers in full sun or partial shade. Planting crocus in bulk will make an even greater impact in the garden. Anise hyssop, Agastache foeniculum: This North American native produces spikes of blue flowers above anise-scented leaves in late summer, growing 3 feet tall, self-seed and tolerate drought. Deadhead them to encourage more blooms. Step outside • Hunters checked in 17,891 wild turkeys during Ohio's 2020 spring hunting season. In 2019, hunters bagged 19,168. The top 10 counties for wild turkey harvest were: Belmont, 533; Monroe, 532; Tuscarawas, 528; Guernsey, 508; Meigs, 503; Muskingum, 499; Washington, 484; Harrison, 458; Coshocton, 450; and Ashtabula, 449. Local turkeys taken with the comparative number from last year were: Allen, 69 (69); Hancock, 41 (33); Hardin, 94 (87); Henry, 43 (53); Putnam, 50 (59); Sandusky, 20 (19); Seneca, 100 (141); Wood, 27 (21); and Wyandot, 79 (76). • Good progress has been made on improving the Mount Blanchard Gun Club's rifle range. Jacob Fletcher and Ryan Shearer have both given a generous contribution to help defray the cost of the improvements. A huge thank you goes out to both. • The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says reservations are being accepted for overnight stays, meetings and weddings at the lodge and conference centers located at Burr Oak, Deer Creek, Hueston, Maumee Bay, Mohican, Punderson, Salt Fork and Shawnee state parks. Lodges are operated by U.S. Hotels, a private entity. • Thursday and Friday: Trap and skeet, open to the public, 5 p.m., UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243. • June 20: Ladies Fun Day, noon to 4 p.m., Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186. Orientation for rifle, pistol and shotgun shooting will all be offered. Information: dcallison96@msn.com • June 28: 3D archery match, Field and Stream Bowhunters, 11400 Allen Township 109. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Contact: Harold Spence, 419-423-9861. • Aug. 22: Mount Blanchard Gun Club has rescheduled the Youth Fun Day from its previous June 6 date to Aug. 22. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com