A Natural Wonder in Danhai New Town: Encountering the Fishfly Neochauliodes sinensis

While strolling through Danhai New Town today, I unexpectedly encountered an unusual insect rarely spotted in everyday life — the Chinese fishfly (Neochauliodes sinensis), and couldn’t resist capturing this photograph to share with everyone.

In the photograph, the Chinese fishfly rests quietly on a set of rusted metal pipes against a rugged gravel background. This insect features an elongated, slender body and prominent reticulated wings patterned with light brownish-grey markings. Its head is crowned by prominent, exaggerated antennae, paired with a distinctive bright yellow collar ring around its prothorax, giving it a truly striking and prehistoric appearance. As I took the photo, it remained completely still, seemingly resting, which allowed me to observe its fine anatomical details up close.

The Chinese fishfly belongs to the family Corydalidae (Megaloptera), an ancient lineage of insects widely distributed across East and Southeast Asia, including the island of Taiwan. They typically inhabit humid environments such as woodland streams and river margins. Adults primarily feed on small insects or plant nectar, while their aquatic larvae (often known as hellgrammites or fishfly larvae) thrive in clean freshwater streams, preying on small aquatic invertebrates. Because their larvae are sensitive to water quality, their presence serves as an important bioindicator of local ecological health, suggesting that clean watercourses and suitable habitats persist nearby in Tamsui.

Although Danhai New Town is an expanding modern residential district, natural corridors and green patches have been preserved in its surroundings. Spotting Neochauliodes sinensis here offers a reassuring reminder of how urban development and nature can coexist. Hopefully, more residents will appreciate these modest ecological treasures and join together to protect the natural environment around us.