ANTLION
The antlion is known mostly for the predatory habits of the larvae, which is a shame because the adults are such stunning insects. They are not dragonflies, damselflies or lacewings, but they are also known as lacewing antlions. In North America they are known as doodlebugs, because of the strange marks they leave in the sand.
The larvae dig pits in loose soil or sand and wait at the bottom of the cone with just their jaws visible, waiting to trap ants and other passing insects. They are extremely sensitive to ground vibrations and can detect the approach of their prey. Once in the pit, if the insect tries to escape by scrambling up the sides, then the antlion larvae throw loose sand at the fleeing insect, making the sides of the pit unstable and the victim slides down to its death. The prey is injected with venom and it then sucks out the tasty bits. The antlion prefers anywhere where the ground is suitable to dig its traps. I have mostly seen the antlions in the scrubland behind the beaches and you can see the pit traps along the beach roads.
