these helpful insects are also known as sand dragons, doodlebugs, antlion, ant lion and antlion lacewings
the adults are often called antlion lacewings
known by several different names in north america- sand dragon or doodlebug - that forms trails that look like something has doodled in the sand
there are about 3,000 species
the term antlion is given to the larval form
the adult is a winged insect.
Ant lion is the name applied to insects of the myrmeleontidae family, which are classified with the alderfly and have some likeness to dragonflies and damselflies. But they can be differentiated by their clubbed antennae and characteristic wing patterns.
to see one, blow on the sand, the insect will be exposed.
is totally harmless to humans
when it is done with its prey, it tosses out the remains from the pit with a snap of its head.
is one of an order insects belonging or pertaining to the Neuroptera (An order of insects including: lacewings; antlions; dobsonflies; alderflies; fish flies; mantispids; spongeflies), They possess a long-jawed larva that digs a cone-shaped pit to which it lies in wait to mainly grab unguarded ants.
is an insect found universally in sandy rural areas.
is known to be a savage predator of other insects and are lightning quick.
it makes little sand traps that small insects fall into where it is buried up to his head at the bottom of trap. It eats ants and other soft-bodied insects in its larval stage.
it is the larval form of the lacewing fly and one of the deadliest natural enemies of the ant.
is not found in the british isles and other channel islands.
the larvae look like stumpy little rhinoceros beetles.
the adults are bustling from june to august, in most times from dusk till dawn because they usually nocturnal.
Watch the following video from National Geographic to see a ant lion larva in action
