adult antlion

Juvenile antlion

AntlionPhylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Neuroptera
Family: Myrmeleontidae

Other Common name: Doodlebug
Size of adult body: 40-80mm

-arid and sandy habitats
-omnivorous. The antlion larvae eat ants and other insects, while the adult antlion eats pollen and nectar.
-abundant in soft sand beneath trees or under overhanging rocks
-The entire length of time from egg-laying to adulthood may take two or three years due to the uncertainty and irregular nature of its food supply. When it first hatches, the tiny larva specializes in very small insects, but as it grows larger, it constructs larger pits and thus catches larger prey.
-The Japanese word for Antlion or Doodlebug is "Ari-jigoku", literally "Ant Hell". The term "ari-jigoku" is also used to describe a situation in which one has fallen into inevitable doom, and must languish while awaiting disaster.




Bibliography:
Bartlett , T. (2004, February 16). Family myrmeleontidae - antlions. Retrieved from http://bugguide.net/node/view/137
, . (2007, August 30). Antlion (family: myrmeleontidae) - wiki. Retrieved from http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?tid=3&did=25372