Most Chaoborus species possess a slender body cavity with different degrees of pigmentation. For instance, Chaoborus americanus exhibits a high pigment density, making it well adapted to environments with limited or absent fish populations. Additionally, Chaoborus possesses two pairs of darkly pigmented air sacs that aid in migration. Chaoborus primarily relies on its mandibles for feeding. These mandibles, typically occurring in pairs, capture and shred prey, which is then pushed back through the digestive system. The size of the mandibles varies among species.