Antlion - Wikipedia Adults, sometimes known as antlion lacewings, mostly fly at dusk or just after dark and may be mistakenly identified as dragonflies or damselflies Antlions have a worldwide distribution The greatest diversity occurs in the tropics, but a few species are found in cold- temperate locations, one such being the European Euroleon nostras
Antlion | Insect, Predator, Sand Trap, Larvae, Facts | Britannica antlion, (family Myrmeleontidae), family of about 2,000 species of insects that are named for the predatory nature of the larva, which commonly trap ants and other small insects in pits dug into the ground Antlions are found throughout the world, primarily in dry, sandy regions
Antlions: Natures Sand Trap Architects - Whats That Bug? Antlion larvae, also called doodlebugs, create sandy pits by carefully excavating soil in a circular motion The pits serve as effective traps for unsuspecting insects and can be up to two inches in diameter and depth
Pit-building antlions: Nature’s sand trap killers - AgriLife Today Once the prey is within reach, Brown said the antlion pulls it under the sand The antlion then injects its prey with a paralyzing toxin and digestive enzymes The enzymes break down the prey’s internal organs and tissue, liquifying them The antlion then consumes this “bug Slurpee” before flicking the bug’s carcass out of the pit
Antlion Pit: What are Antlions? The name "antlion" best describes this insect's predacious larval form—a mottled gray or brown creature with an oversized head, spiny jaws, short legs, and a soft body covered in bristles (see Figure 1)
Who Let the Bugs Out? | Purdue | entomology | insect | collect . . . Common Name: Antlion Scientific Name: Myrmeleontidae: spp Status: Beneficial predator Beneficial Stage: Immature Biology: Antlions are beneficial predators of small insects Adult antlions resemble a damselfly in body shape, but are poor fliers, usually only fly at night and have long clubbed antennae
Antlions and Doodlebugs - Yard and Garden The antlion begins a pit by walking backward and pressing its wide, flattened abdomen into the soil This process creates a winding or spiral-shaped trail in the sand that is allegedly the source of the name “doodlebug ” (Doodle: to make aimless scribbles, designs, or sketches )
Family Myrmeleontidae - Antlions Owlflies - BugGuide. Net Larvae are voracious predators that lie in wait for their insect prey, though different genera have different modes of predation Myrmeleon spp (often known as "doodlebugs") are most frequently noticed and are the only genus in our area to dig a shallow, funnel-shaped pit in loose sand to trap prey Members of some other genera such as Glenurus and Dendroleon aren't even found in the sand and