Fishflies are members of the subfamily Chauliodinae, belonging to the megalopteran family Corydalidae. They are most easily distinguished from their closest relatives, dobsonflies, by the jaws and antennae.

Do fish fly bite?

One thing: they don't bite and they don't mess with my garden," Rick Southerland, a resident of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, told WWJ. But the fishflies are definitely a nuisance. ... Similar to moths and other insects, fishflies are drawn to light.

What's the purpose of a fish fly?

Fish flies emerge after spending one to two years on the bottom of a lake or river as a nymph living burrowed in the mud. When they've reach adulthood, the insects can fly, but they only live for 24 hours to seven days, depending on the species. During this time, their purpose is to reproduce.