The drab brown larvae can reach lengths close to that of a human finger and have mandibles with impressive bite strength (I have the scars to prove it!).
Tailwaters below dams are often perfect scud habitat where they thrive in shallow, stable flows with abundance of aquatic vegetation. During winter, freshwater shrimp-like crustaceans, or scuds, are a significant food source in the tailwaters when other food sources are not readily available.