If I understand correctly, even though California Dobsonfly is one common name applied to these
animals, it's actually a misnomer as they are not Dobsonflies but Gray Fishflies
(the Neohermes family).
The actual species name of this one is Neohermes californicus.

This one was found on the same day as the last, out in front of our house on the driveway,
going through such contortions that it seemed to be in agony, one moment curving its abdomen up
as if it was a scorpion trying to jab its own thorax, and the next moment arching its back as if stabbing the ground with the tip of its abdomen, all the while twisting its wings around and
flailing its legs and lashing its antennae around. It was acting as if it was being bitten by
ants but I could see nothing at all like that.