Antlion facts: Scariness in the Sand | Animal Fact Files

Antlions are the things of nightmares. Apparently there are people who don't believe these animals exist, but they are absolutely real. Antlions are also known as doodbugs and they build pitfall traps for any would-be passersby insects who are unfortunate enough to fall in. At the center of these perfectly crafted pits are antlion larvae waiting with mandibles open. Now, not all antlions create these pits. Out of approximately 2,000 living there are some who build pit traps, others who remain in leaf litter, and some who also live in holes in trees - they're not all making doom pits. Adult antlions look nothing like their larvae and with a lifespan of only a month as well as a sloppy flight pattern they're nowhere near as imposing.

Scientific Name: Family - Myrmeleontidae
Range: most of the world; most abundant in warm areas
Size: larvae are under an inch (2.54cm); adults can reach 3in (7.62cm)
Diet: mostly ants as larvae but also other arthropods, nectar and pollen as adults
Lifespan: less than a year up to three years

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Mira Mechtley - https://www.flickr.com/photos/mmechtley/14564759696
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